Formula One News

Formula One News » Sauber optimistic over 2011 Posted on 06/09/2010

Despite negative speculation about its future in F1, Peter Sauber insists that his team will be back, and stronger, in 2011.

The Swiss team owner, who saved the Hinwil operation after BMW bailed out of its stewarship commitments after a disappointing 2009 campaign, admits that the current season has been one of his toughest, but revealed that the financial side of the business – one of the biggest areas of concern – is looking healthier than many predicted.

“It would have been an easy thing to plaster the car with advertisements from sponsors that pay less than what you think is the true value,” he told the official F1 website of the largely white car he has fielded for Kamui Kobayashi and Pedro de la Rosa this year, “I know that it is happening at other teams, but I say that it is the wrong road to go down – at least for us.

“If you are only showing off that you have sponsors, whilst the revenue is not there, it doesn’t help. A sponsor that is with us is paying for the space at a just price.

“We knew all along that it would be very difficult to find sponsors this season, especially after taking over the team just before Christmas – more or less ten weeks before the start of the season – and to find the kind of serious sponsors that you want before the first race. Naturally, you always keep hoping but we were also prepared to run this season without a title sponsor.”

Sauber is believed to have largely financed the 2010 campaign out of his own pocket, despite high-profile but short-term deals with both Burger King and Mad Croc energy drinks, but is reluctant to reveal too many details about the promise he admits is on the horizon for 2011.

“I only can say that I am confident, or rather I am convinced, that the team will have proper financing next season to give us the chance to race on the level that we want to,” he confirmed.

The rumour mill refuses to let go of the suggestion that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu – reportedly the richest man on the planet – is set to become involved in Sauber’s future, especially as the team recently strengthened its ties with GP3 Series frontrunner Esteban Gutierrez.

“I could say that we don’t comment on rumours – that could be one possible answer,” Sauber teased, “But how do rumours start?

“Esteban Gutierrez was already contracted to the BMW Sauber F1 team. We had him drive the car for one day last year at the young drivers’ test day, as this was contractually agreed, and he impressed us – this was the reason why we took him.

“Gutierrez is contracted to us now and he has very close contacts to Mexico – and especially to Carlos Slim. This is the reason why you will find Carlos Slim a bit more often in our hospitality than at those of other teams, but it is also no secret that Carlos Slim is a much-welcomed guest at all the other teams as well.”

Having provided a foot on the F1 ladder for the likes of Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen and Robert Kubica over the years, Sauber has established a reputation as a talent spotter, and he admits that he is not short of hopefuls knocking on the door at Hinwil.

“It is no secret that we are probably the best address for upcoming talents,” he conceded, “We have proved that in the past, not just because I can spot a good, young driver, but also because the team is good for young drivers.

“You must never underestimate the human factor in nurturing talents. And there is another aspect to that. If a young, talented driver is doing well with us then the big teams immediately have that guy on their radar screen. We already face this again with Kamui. Driving with us is different to driving somewhere else and that makes our team interesting for young, talented drivers.

“The team is attractive and has potential because it has an excellent infrastructure, absolutely comparable to that of the top teams. The fact that we cannot really rival the top teams is to do with our financial situation and head count. But the conditions are there.”

Although the current campaign is unlikely to yield the sort of championship result that Sauber was hoping for when he retook control in the winter, he admits that there is still some rebuilding to do even if he is already hoping for a return to its former status in 2011.

“When you have a look at the past, then we were oscillating between seventh and fourth place [in the championship],” he reasoned, “BMW made a big step forward that took us all the way to P2, [but] we took the team over again when it had finished in P6 – although I would say that this position was a lucky one as we managed to rise from seventh to sixth place only at the last race in 2009.

“But, at the moment, I would say that is looks like it will be hard to maintain that position as the gap, particularly to Force India, is quite significant. We are not satisfied with the position that we hold now. And, when I say that I am sure we will have the finances to race as we would like, then I clearly see us doing better than now.

“We are definitely focused on doing better than P8 – if that is feasible, I cannot tell. I have no idea how our immediate challengers will develop. We also had no idea that, in 2009, at the last race, we would outrun Williams, but it worked. So let’s see what we can manage to do in the six remaining races.

“For Monza, we will try to get a good set-up for a low-downforce track and, for the last five ‘flyaway’ races, we will introduce some bits and pieces, but I have to say that clearly our main focus is on the 2011 car.

“And, if we speak about P8 in the constructors’ championship, let’s not forget that last year a team with a world-class driver ended in P8 – Renault with Fernando Alonso – so P8 doesn’t seem to be all that bad…”

http://www.f1.co.uk/bmw-sauber/