Sauber getting a power boost

[neilap]

Sauber is testing a new motor in preparation for Europe. My question is, how is this possible? If they are using old Ferrari motors then why did Ferrari not just give them the better motor? If not then who is upgrading the motor?

[Gore]

I think Sauber's deal is that they receive Ferrari engines "n" specs behind the works team's. I know in previous years Sauber have started the season with the engine Ferrari ran in qualifying at Suzuka, and then received an upgrade each time Ferrari has introduced an updated engine. I believe Jordan and Minardi's Ford engine supply operates to the same system this year, Jordan being one step behind Jag, Minardi two behind.

The most obvious reason for such engine supply deals is that the supplier, when writing the contract, doesn't want its works operaton shown up by a customer. It may also be the case that once a new engine is introduced, a surplus of the old unit becomes available (on the other hand, I would have thought there were economies of scale in operating the same unit across teams rather than two seperate models).