Monday, February 28, 2011

F1: 2011 Constructor - Sauber


(Sauber C30; Source: theformulaoneand motorsportsarchive.wordpress.com)

Team
Launch Date/Venue: January 31 - Valencia
Name: Sauber F1 Team
Base: Hinwil, Switzerland
Former Team Names: Sauber; BMW Sauber
Constructors Titles: 0
Drivers Titles: 0
2010 Standings: 8th; 44-points
2010 Chassis: C29

Team Principal: Peter Sauber
Technical Director: James Key
Seasons: 18 (1993-Present)
Debut Race: 1993 South African GP
Races: 295
Wins: 1
Poles: 1

Chassis
Model: C30
Engine: Ferrari 056/2011
(Upgraded for KERS installation)
Gearbox: Ferrari

TECH: Sauber C30 – Launch Detail and Analysis

Drivers
No. 16) Kamui Kobayashi; Japan
No. 17) R-Sergio Perez; Mexico
Test/Reserve Driver) Esteban Gutierrez

Summary
After the botched attempt of selling the team by BMW, fortunately Peter Sauber was willing to step into the void in order to save his beloved F1 team last year. Thus, after a somewhat perilous 2010 season, albeit with brief flashes of success shown by the Japanese Hard Chargin’ rookie “K-Squared,” (Kamui Kobayashi) the team is now in mucho better financial status thanks largely to its new found Mexican connection with Billionaire Carlos Slim.

This relationship was cemented with the promoting of Mexican GP2 driver Sergio Perez to the teams second race seat; who brings his celebrated TelMex sponsorship to the fold – leading to other Mexican companies joining the Fiesta, most notably Tequila Drinks maker Jose Quervo.

Meanwhile Kobayashi now graduates to the team leader role in his second full season of Formula One, whilst rising Mexican Hot-Hot-Hot! ‘Schu Esteban Gutierrez is elevated to the team’s test/reserve driver role. Gutierrez, the reigning & inaugural GP3 Champion will now contest this year’s GP2 season as he seeks to work his way into a fulltime Gran Primo Piloto ride in the near future, whilst serving out his third driver team role.

Hopefully the C30 will be an improvement over the recalcitrant C29, albeit, the little Minnowesqe team could struggle bringing Perez up-to-speed, but I hope to see the Sauber Boyz continue an upward trend towards the vaunted Constructors Title fight, as I’d enjoy seeing them leapfrog past Vijay Mallya...

Sauber launches C30

Sauber C30: Pictures

Sauber C30: Launch notes