Sauber Speak Newsletter #003
By Jamie Makin
February 16 2005
This week could be called "the calm before the storm" at Sauber HQ in Hinwil, Switzerland. The team is hard at work in the factory on some modifications and new parts for the C24 following a busy test last week at Jerez which saw both drivers in action all three days.
That test allowed the team to breathe a sigh of relief as the "fundamental design flaw" they feared in the C24 turned out to be non-existent. Felipe Massa put in some blazing lap times and was even the quickest out of seventeen drivers in action on Tuesday. He was among the top five drivers on the other days of the test.
Teammate Jacques Villeneuve faced a tougher challenge, as he admitted he is still coming to terms with the setup on the C24. It is very different from the cars he is used to and he knows he will have to adapt his driving style to get the most out of it. His test programme focused more on component evaluations and both factors combined to leave him at or near the bottom of the charts each day.
With such varied results, it is even harder than usual to predict how the team will fare in the coming season. The general consensus is that Massa's and Villeneuve's performances will be more equally matched come race day but how Sauber will fare among other teams is still a big unknown. The team is aiming to break out of the 6th place midfield slot they've occupied the past two seasons but they must watch their backs as Toyota and Red Bull are also eager to move forward.
Some concerns have also emerged over the new Michelin tyres. Despite both Michelin and Bridgestone having to "start over" on tyre designs to suit the new regulations, recent feedback from both camps indicate that the general characteristics of each have remained constant. The Bridgestones are slower getting up to speed but more consistent over long runs. The Michelins get an initial burst of speed but trail off as they wear down. The fortunate news for Sauber is that Michelin teams have logged in total more than six times as many test miles as their Bridgestone rivals, who rely almost exclusively on Ferrari for test data now.
Off track, there has been speculation that Sauber could be for sale as FIA President Max Mosley has said that one more independent team sale is being negotiated following the successful sale of Jordan to Midland. There seem to be no facts pointing to Sauber as being the team for sale but we will keep a close watch on this story and bring you more if anything develops.
The lack of rumours concerning new sponsorship for Sauber is an area of concern. Last month it seemed like the team had several options and that a new deal is imminent but absolutely nothing new has come out since. It is likely we won't know for sure until Sauber arrives in Melbourne but the total lack of rumours lead us to believe that no news may simply be no news.
Sauber will return to the test track in Imola from Friday to Saturday this week for their final preseason test. The winter has been long and the fans are anxious for the first race, but it is likely the Sauber team wishes they still had more time to sort everything out.
We are still seeking feedback from fans on the new C24 to use on the website. Are you excited about Sauber's prospects for the new year? Will the car be a true contender for race wins? Or is the team destined to stay in their midfield slump? Do you like the driver lineup? Or do you yearn for someone else to steer the C24?
You can send your comments to: feedback@sauberspeak.co.uk. Don't forget to tell us your name and where you're from.
It is our hope that this season will see more fans come to the site and start to get to know each other while we build a new community of SAUBER fans. As always, if you have any suggestions for features you would like to see on Sauber Speak, just let us know.
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