Worst Sauber ever? Whats the deal? (merged)

[903cc]

This years Sauber seems like a real dog. I cannot believe it as it is half of last years Ferrari. The chassis or aerodynamics must be terrible.

Anybody got any clues. Is it the drivers? I honestly thought Sauber would be up there with the big guys this year.

[Irv the Swerve]

Its the invisible paint they put on their cars, it must be slowing them down.

Well come on, has anyone seen the Saubers this year?

[cos]

The Saubers are always anonymous.... but the drivers can't be that bad, Heidfeld's had a podium, Frentzen's won races, that Ferrari engine won everything last year, which only leaves the chassis...

[flor]

they have problems with generating grip from their aeroparts and they know it but don't seem to have a solution yet, it also looks like the michelin tyres are better, but also bar is in front of them...

[JonesF1]

I guess they ran out of money for engineers after building the $30mil windtunnel, Hank the janitor is doing the best he can. Now im no Ken Tyrell but the C22 just doesnt look right at all, not anything like the other cars. Very boxy, especially that wide front nose.

[Raven]

I think they did lose some important people on the design/engineering side. Of course the development of Jaguar, Toyota and BAR has shuffled them back. That was only a matter of time really.

[Tristan]

The "worst Sauber ever"?? Um, not *quite*. But not as good as the previous two, which were unusually good.

[jetsetter]

Sauber are really struggling at the moment & i don't know if there's a great deal the team can do about it, every time a car came up behind one of the Sauber's they caught it like it was standing still.

[f1manoz]

The Saubers isn't that bad, but many teams have made leaps forward while Sauber have stagnated somewhat in the past 6-12 months.

Most of the problems simply lie with the aerodynamics. The drivers are always complaining about grip.

As for being anonymous, aren't the Saubers' always like that? We Sauber fans are glad as we are also ignored.

[Wrex]

I agree F1manoz, it's not that Sauber have gone backwards, just that 2 or 3 teams have made major leaps forward.

[GTRMagic]

I wonder if things will improve with a customer Ilmor-Mercedes in the tail in 2004?

[corkholio]

Their aero department has gone to s**t ever since Rinland left.

It seems like Sauber must have hired the geniuses that the Idiot Ski Instructor had over at BAR before Richards/Willis came along.

[DNQ]

In 2001, the Rinland twin-keel chassis was brilliant, while BAR, Jordan and Jaguar were terrible.

In 2002, there wasn't that much development, but they were able to do well with what was largely the 2001 in essence, as no one else really made big improvements.

This year, once again there hasn't been alot of improvement, where as Toyota, BAR, and Jaguar have made big leaps.

It was inevitable really.

[alesi95]

Worst Sauber ever has gotta be the 1996 Sauber Ford.

[Thorstone]

It is Worst Sauber since 1997

[f1manoz]

The 1997 Sauber-Petronas wasn't that bad. Johnny Herbert scored quite a number of points in it.

He scored 15 points that year, with one third in Hungary, two fourths in Argentina and at Spa, two fifths in Spain and Canada and a sixth at Suzuka. Add to that 5 other top 10 finishes and only two non-finishes through mechanical failure and I think you have quite a good car.

Nicola Larini also scored one point in Australia while Gianni Morbidelli was consistent though never really looked like scoring.

[Mark Webber]

Sauber is on a down hill ride unless a car maker buys them out or takes over . I like Sauber but teams like Ferrari ,Merc ,Renault ,Bmw, Jag ,Toyota & honda will leave them behind quickly over the coming years unless Sauber jumps on the band wagon they will be left will Minardi & Jordan at the back

[903cc]

It really looks like they need to get the cheque book out and get a new design then. Such a shame on paper they should be a potential race winner.

[Bononi]

It's a bad year for Sauber, in addition with a "into retirement" driver like HHF. I guess THAT this is what Peter Sauber meant when he say the team need a experienced driver.

[BootsOntheSide]

The days when a private team can really compete are over. The 2001 car grabbed them bback up the order, aided by Kimi's brilliance and Nick having been previously under-rated. 2003 seems to be the year that Jaguar, BAR and Toyota have all got it together, which has mired Sauber down with the other privateers. They haven't looked like scoring on true pace so far, and probably never will.

[Tristan]

"it's not that Sauber have gone backwards, just that 2 or 3 teams have made major leaps forward."

..which is the same thing. If you stop swimming, you sink.

[nicker less]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
aided by Kimi's brilliance

Aided by Kimi's "brilliance" even though Heidfeld outscored and out performed him!

[Mr V]

I wonder how next years Sauber will go with the Mercades engine in it? (as was mentioned on tv during the weekend!)

[Jukebox]

Reasons why is their own windtunnel would only be operational at the end of this year and the next nearest windtunnel to their headquarters is hundreds of miles away...i think by mid 2004 onwards, they would be able to produce a better car.

[Joe Machado]

Sauber is probably the tighest run ship in F1. Peter Sauber is a stuborn, tough S.O.B. and that is probably the reason why they cannot come up with a car that is able to explore the best engine/transmission combination today. Its about time they sell the team to someone who is flexible and able to design a winner.