Results (9/12): Sauber in reconstruction

Peter Sauber's team is clearly in difficulty. A motor Ferrari which shows signs of weakness, an uncompetitive car, repeated problems, lack of a main sponsor? There is no shortage of reasons for concern. However, the Hinwill team apparently started on the solid foundations established by BMW. If the German manufacturer has left, its name has remained and the performance is not there.

In four Grand Prix, the Sauber team has encountered multiple problems. Double retirement due to hydraulic problem in Bahrain, double retirement due to engine problem in Malaysia, accident for Kamui Kobayashi in Melbourne due to a slightly loose front wing, nothing went as planned for the white cars.

« Obviously, we are all disappointed not to have scored any points, recognizes Peter Sauber. Because our goal was to fight to score points on a regular basis. We suffered a lot from the lack of reliability, whether in terms of the chassis or the engine. This is very unusual because we have always been one of the best teams in this area. »

If Peter Sauber has achieved the feat of keeping the team in Formula 1 despite the withdrawal of BMW, the teamHinwil today has much fewer resources. The Swiss businessman affirms that the development of the C29 has not suffered from the withdrawal of BMW but the workforce has still decreased significantly and the ambitions of 2009 can no longer be those of 2010. Especially since the budget is not unlimited, Peter Sauber having not signed any title sponsor for this season. The white and blank main sponsor cars could therefore also suffer from a lack of development during the season.

« This is an important subject, says Pedro de la Rosa. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find financial support but, without this support, the development of the automobile industry is hardly possible. We had too many problems with the engine and the car. Clearly something is wrong. The car is not balanced enough. We knew we had a lot of work ahead of us, but after the winter testing I wasn't expecting that. »

Peter Sauber is aware of the problem but did not think that the development work would be so extensive and, therefore, would require so much budget. “ When I bought the team at the end of November, we had neither sponsor nor place on the grid. The car was all white. But I didn't imagine that the C29 would be so far from the pace. But it was also illusory to think of signing a major sponsor for 2010 at the start of the year. That being said, we are financially secure for this season. Our search for sponsors is now focused on 2011 but that does not mean that we stop looking for them for this season. »

Although the team is not in financial danger, significant development work remains to be carried out. On a sporting level, Sauber does not seem able to get into the points during the Grands Prix. Stables such as Toro Rosso, Force India or even Williams seem much superior in terms of performance and reliability.

« We took a close look at the chassis issues and acted accordingly, says Sauber. Our engine partner, Ferrari, does the same thing for its part. We certainly expected more after the winter tests. We are lagging behind our direct competitors. But James Key, our new technical director, carried out an initial analysis and drew up a series of measures to apply. But he is an engineer and does not perform miracles. These measures will therefore need time to take effect. »

Furthermore, Peter Sauber is not kind to BMW. For the owner of the Hinwil team, the German manufacturer left a team in great difficulty, ultimately without solid foundations. “ When I sold the team to BMW in 2006, I decided to take a step back. It was important for me to leave some distance. Now I discover that there is a lot to do. The analysis process is ongoing and we will have the results in the near future. »

For Peter Sauber, the team's 2010 season seems compromised, even if the second half of the year should be more satisfactory. The whole team, starting with the drivers, wants to get the most out of the cars and score points as often as possible. But, for the Hinwil team, the first satisfaction is to have managed to stay in F1. The year 2010 should be that of reconstruction, in order to launch the 2011 season on a healthier basis.