What next for Sauber?

[BSchneiderFan]

Sauber to miss the post-Barcelona test: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/124096/sauber-to-miss-barcelona-f1-test

It's not looking good for the team. To miss out on a vital in-season test reeks of desperation. Will they make it to Abu Dhabi?

[GT6]

It does look very much like they are having cash flow problems, fingers crossed they find some soon

[Moneyseeker]

Rather depressingly, the reason they give (apart from the one we think) for missing it is that have nothing new to test, so this means they will slip even further back.

[steve_r]

It's not looking good. On track performance is not good as it is, and that is without the tenths that the teams around them who are developing their cars will no doubt find.

Surely they are ripe for the takeover, if anyone has money to burn. Come on Alfa Romeo, put some money into their account and paint the cars red.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by steve_r

It's not looking good. On track performance is not good as it is, and that is without the tenths that the teams around them who are developing their cars will no doubt find.

Surely they are ripe for the takeover, if anyone has money to burn. Come on Alfa Romeo, put some money into their account and paint the cars red.

Haas-Alfa tie up is more likely. Who would buy them as the first thing you would need to do is relocate the team (probably to the UK) where it would be cheaper to operate, have a bigger pool of engineering talent and ready supply chain, they are out on a limb in Switzerland.

[nobster]

the end is coming for Monica, maybe a change in management can put them on the up again

[BSchneiderFan]

At least they're upgrading to the latest spec Ferrari engines in Spain. That should help a bit. But they're still scrapping with Manor and Renault for back of the pack.

[Formulahistory]

I also think it would be better to replace Kaltenborn. A new team principal perhaps send out more trust for investors.
But the main problem: Time is over for privste F1 teams.

[GT6]

Well surely mclaren, williams, red bull are there and to be honest the factory teams ferrari and renault are not exactly matching mercedes so lets no go down the end of privateers line just yet

[peebee2]

Amazing they can't find a young driver to pay to test! Need someone new in charge

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Amazing they can't find a young driver to pay to test! Need someone new in charge

I am not sure if you are joking or not, but I will play along.

Steps...

1. Sign up any number of pay test drivers. The more the better.
2. Promise them that they will move up to race drivers next season.
3. Profit!

Oh wait, they already tried that.

Richard

[GT6]

well if it worked once why not try it again, what have they got to lose

[S griffin]

I hope Sauber stay, they've always been proper racers, especially Peter, but it seems that they need a major sponsor or more likely a manufacturer

[BSchneiderFan]

Time to bump this thread up. Still languishing at the pointless end of the table with Manor, and neither of their drivers looking like a superstar. They seem to have fended off financial collapse for the time being, but missing the Barcelona test was a really bad sign. Will they see out the year?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Time to bump this thread up. Still languishing at the pointless end of the table with Manor, and neither of their drivers looking like a superstar. They seem to have fended off financial collapse for the time being, but missing the Barcelona test was a really bad sign. Will they see out the year?

Apart from the Monaco sillyness the drivers have been fairly solid.

The car isn't much better than the Enstone so we can't really write them off as both did very well last year in better circumstances.

I still rate Nasr much much higher than Palmer for example, even though the latter beat him in GP2. I think there's basic talent and there's workmanlike. Too many of the latter propping up F1 seats at the moment.

[peebee2]

Depends if Nasr"s sponsors can get him in the STR in place of Kyvat

[p-matt]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Depends if Nasr"s sponsors can get him in the STR in place of Kyvat

I'm still trying to make sense of this. Has Nasr to STR been rumoured anywhere? Wasn't he the man Marko felt to need to criticise in 2013 for not being able to win? Ironically, Gasly has a much longer winless streak than Nasr had!

[BSchneiderFan]

Is that likely? Red Bull don't tend to take much in the way of outside sponsorship.

[peebee2]

STR does

[cds_uk]

I think Nasr's main priority is to start beating Ericsson surely?

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by cds_uk

I think Nasr's main priority is to start beating Ericsson surely?

With a stick?

[FIRE]

Why would STR want Nasr?

[cds_uk]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Why would STR want Nasr?

Precisely, surely Gasly, no matter how underwhelming he is, would be next in line for an STR seat. On another note, nice to see that Sauber have some upgrades on the way apparently, new front and rear wings due by Silverstone at the latest, hopefully sooner.

[S griffin]

Nasr did have that sensational debut in Melbourne last year, so he's not without talent. He just hasn't to progress much of late

[chunterer]

Another decent job for Nasr in Baku.

It's always hard to tell exactly how capable a driver is in a crap car but it does look a lot like he at least warrants a shot with a bigger team next year.

As for the team I guess we won't know if they are going to be able to carry on in 2017 until much later this season?