Sauber is the latest F1 team to officially unveil their 2014 car, following McLaren's MP4-29 and Ferrari's F14 T launches on Friday and Saturday.
The Ferrari-powered C33 was revealed online on Sunday and will be driven by Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez this season.
It will be powered by the new V6 Turbo power-unit from the Scuderia and is the 22nd car to be produced at Sauber's Hinwil-based factory. The C33 will make its on-track debut at the first winter test in Jerez, where a basic "roll-out" version will be used.
Large performance parts and upgrades will be fitted for the second and third pre-season tests in Bahrain next month. It retains the dark grey livery with white and red accents of its predecessor.
The car features the already familiar 'finger' style nose, which has a thin tip, similar to the McLaren MP4-29 and Williams FW36 designs. It has very small sidepods and a rear wing support pylon that is also featured on the Ferrari F14 T.
Explaining the dramatic regulation changes for 2014, the team's chief designer Eric Gandelin said: "Together, these changes present the engineers with a huge challenge, especially with time pressure also a major factor. We’ve had to make various decisions on the chassis before all the necessary data and information was available to us.
"That is understandable, given that engine development continues alongside that of the rest of the car up to the last possible moment. And ultimately, of course, that is in our interests as well."
Looking ahead to the cars first roll-out at Jerez, team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said: "We’ll be having our roll-out in Jerez. That is always a very special moment, because first of all we’ll see if everything really fits together and if the car is running well. It also tells us if we have been working in the right direction for the last nine months. All this makes it a very emotional moment."
Talking about expectations for 2014, she added: "Due to the big changes on the chassis side, but particularly on the drive train side, it is impossible to give any indication about our competitiveness. We can do that at the earliest after the winter tests, particularly when we have seen where we stand compared to our competitors. As always, it’s going to be our target to improve our position in the championship."
Adrian Sutil, who will drive with the number 99 for the rest of his F1 career, joins the team for this season after previously racing for Force India. Asked what his aims are for the year, he replied: "I always try to improve. My best season was 2011, I finished ninth in the championship, so my realistic target would be to be better then ninth.
"But it’s very early and it’s always hard to make any predictions for the season. So let’s see what will happen. We have a lot of work to do and I’m confident. We want to maximise our package as a team and that’s the most important thing."
He has spent a lot of time at the factory over the winter and due to the confirmation of his race seat in December, he has had plenty of time to prepare. He admits that, due to being tall, his main priority has been to lose weight.
The 31-year-old is excited for the new era in F1: "We are now at the end of January and we are close to the first test, I’m very excited to see how it will be, because no one really knows what the car is going to be like to drive on a circuit. There is a new era now with new engines and new cars. So I’m really exited and looking forward to stepping into a real new race car with a new team."
His team-mate will be Esteban Gutierrez. The Mexican, who will use the number 21, is looking to show he can be a team leader. "I want to become a leader for the team. This is my second year now as a racing driver in Formula One and a lot of new things are coming up. I think that my involvement with the team is very important, so that we can meet our targets as a team.
"As a driver I want to take the next step. My approach is now different to last year and I’m really in full fighting mode with a lot of power. I prepared during the off-season and also analysed and evaluated everything that happened in my rookie season, so I can take that and turn it into a powerful asset this season."
Discussing the new regulations and how drivers will have to adapt, he added: "To adjust to the new car this year will be special, because there is quite a dramatic change in the regulations, which will mean different strategies. And from a driver’s point of view a difference in how to drive the car.
"This will take a lot of time and analysis to then properly apply things the way they should be. I think testing is going to be very important for this. Because, obviously, we want to arrive at the first race fully prepared and 100 percent adapted to our package, and then develop that further in the season. This is the evolution you need to have in a season in Formula One."
For interviews with members of the team, see Sauber's YouTube channel.
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© Sauber F1 Team
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It will be powered by the new V6 Turbo power-unit from the Scuderia and is the 22nd car to be produced at Sauber's Hinwil-based factory. The C33 will make its on-track debut at the first winter test in Jerez, where a basic "roll-out" version will be used.
Large performance parts and upgrades will be fitted for the second and third pre-season tests in Bahrain next month. It retains the dark grey livery with white and red accents of its predecessor.
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| © Sauber F1 Team |
Explaining the dramatic regulation changes for 2014, the team's chief designer Eric Gandelin said: "Together, these changes present the engineers with a huge challenge, especially with time pressure also a major factor. We’ve had to make various decisions on the chassis before all the necessary data and information was available to us.
"That is understandable, given that engine development continues alongside that of the rest of the car up to the last possible moment. And ultimately, of course, that is in our interests as well."
Looking ahead to the cars first roll-out at Jerez, team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said: "We’ll be having our roll-out in Jerez. That is always a very special moment, because first of all we’ll see if everything really fits together and if the car is running well. It also tells us if we have been working in the right direction for the last nine months. All this makes it a very emotional moment."
Talking about expectations for 2014, she added: "Due to the big changes on the chassis side, but particularly on the drive train side, it is impossible to give any indication about our competitiveness. We can do that at the earliest after the winter tests, particularly when we have seen where we stand compared to our competitors. As always, it’s going to be our target to improve our position in the championship."
 |
|
© Sauber F1 Team
|
Adrian Sutil, who will drive with the number 99 for the rest of his F1 career, joins the team for this season after previously racing for Force India. Asked what his aims are for the year, he replied: "I always try to improve. My best season was 2011, I finished ninth in the championship, so my realistic target would be to be better then ninth.
"But it’s very early and it’s always hard to make any predictions for the season. So let’s see what will happen. We have a lot of work to do and I’m confident. We want to maximise our package as a team and that’s the most important thing."
He has spent a lot of time at the factory over the winter and due to the confirmation of his race seat in December, he has had plenty of time to prepare. He admits that, due to being tall, his main priority has been to lose weight.
The 31-year-old is excited for the new era in F1: "We are now at the end of January and we are close to the first test, I’m very excited to see how it will be, because no one really knows what the car is going to be like to drive on a circuit. There is a new era now with new engines and new cars. So I’m really exited and looking forward to stepping into a real new race car with a new team."
His team-mate will be Esteban Gutierrez. The Mexican, who will use the number 21, is looking to show he can be a team leader. "I want to become a leader for the team. This is my second year now as a racing driver in Formula One and a lot of new things are coming up. I think that my involvement with the team is very important, so that we can meet our targets as a team.
"As a driver I want to take the next step. My approach is now different to last year and I’m really in full fighting mode with a lot of power. I prepared during the off-season and also analysed and evaluated everything that happened in my rookie season, so I can take that and turn it into a powerful asset this season."
Discussing the new regulations and how drivers will have to adapt, he added: "To adjust to the new car this year will be special, because there is quite a dramatic change in the regulations, which will mean different strategies. And from a driver’s point of view a difference in how to drive the car.
"This will take a lot of time and analysis to then properly apply things the way they should be. I think testing is going to be very important for this. Because, obviously, we want to arrive at the first race fully prepared and 100 percent adapted to our package, and then develop that further in the season. This is the evolution you need to have in a season in Formula One."
For interviews with members of the team, see Sauber's YouTube channel.
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