Sauber: financial worries worsen

The financial crisis currently affecting Sauber F1 Team has just climbed a new level. Already under the pressure of Ferrari, which is demanding a payment of 9 million euros before the Belgian Grand Prix for the supply of its engines, the Swiss team would also be under threat from Pirelli, which has still not received payment for its 2013 tires. So, according to le Bild Am Sonntag, who follows the file from the beginning, the debt of the formation of?Hinwil would reach nearly 80 million euros, of which 35 would come solely from unpaid invoices to suppliers.

A situation that also concerns pilots. So, as already announced, Nico Hulkenberg would not have received his pay for 2013, in the same way as Esteban Gutiérrez, as the German daily puts it. More surprisingly, Kamui Kobayashi, who piloted for the Swiss team from 2010 to the end of 2012, would still be paid 2,5 million euros.

The more time passes, the more delicate the situation becomes. Especially since the Russian bailout plan announced in July, and whose implementation is delayed, now seems to be completely called into question if the young Serguey Sirotkin, 17, is not guaranteed to obtain a starting position next season.

Enough to consider another alternative for Monisha Kaltenborn, the Team Principal of the team, and Peter Sauber, its founder, who could then seek to sell everything. As such, Colin Kolles, the former boss of HRT, has already shown interest in obtaining shares in the Swiss team.