DECEMBER 10, 2014

Nasr says Sauber is a serious F1 team

Felipe Nasr has played down suggestions he is kicking off his F1 career with an ailing team.

Felipe Nasr has played down suggestions he is kicking off his F1 career with an ailing team.

A constant and respected presence on the grid for over twenty years, Hinwil based Sauber sunk to its worst-ever result in 2014, failing to score even a single point.

Now, the fact the Swiss team has signed Brazilian Nasr and his sponsor Banco do Brasil, and the heavily-backed Caterham refugee Marcus Ericsson, has been interpreted as a sign of clear financial problems.

But Nasr, third in the GP2 standings this year, insists Sauber is not an ailing minnow.

"I didn't want to join a small team that is not competitive," he told Brazil's Globo Esporte.

"Sauber has a good structure, serious people. It has a Ferrari engine and Ferrari has been improving a lot. I expect a more competitive team next year.

"I am excited and optimistic for these first two seasons with Sauber," Nasr added.

(GMM)