Sauber is in a race for money after discovering its 2012 car is up to speed with F1′s richest teams.

As ever in formula one, world championships are won not on the basis of a clever initial design, but on a team’s ability to continue to develop it throughout a long season.

According to O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, the formerly BMW-owned Sauber team’s chief executive Monisha Kaltenborn admits that the Hinwil based outfit cannot compete on that front with the likes of McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull.

“It’s a shame,” she is quoted as saying.

“I hope we can show enough potential so that some companies decide to invest in our project,” said Kaltenborn, with the Brazilian newspaper estimating that Sauber’s budget is EUR 80 million this year.

In contrast, the top four teams’ budgets are believed to be all above EUR 220m.

Kaltenborn told F1′s official website recently that Sauber would back a push to impose a budget cap — an issue that triggered the big teams’ bitter political war with former FIA president Max Mosley a few years ago.

“We … have also openly said that we are not satisfied with our sponsor situation because we have high targets and to achieve them you need appropriate funding,” she continued.

“We still need to work on that side of things, as of course the more funding you have the more you can develop — and it shows on the track.

“I have said before that when we look back we practically never had enough money to do what we really wanted to. The question is always how big the gap is — sometimes it is bigger, sometimes it is smaller.”

Peter Sauber has admitted his Swiss team is flattered after Red Bull apparently copied the C31′s exhaust layout ahead of the 2012 season.
Red Bull ran at the initial Jerez and Barcelona tests – and then the two opening days of the final Barcelona test – with its own solution in the wake of the FIA’s blown exhaust clampdown.

“We had a nice surprise on the penultimate day (of winter testing),” Sauber team boss Peter Sauber wrote in his column for Sonntagsblick newspaper.

“Red Bull announced their plans to use a heavily modified car, as it will race in Melbourne.

“Compared to their first version it had a completely different rear, which differs significantly from most cars — but not ours.

“The Red Bull and our C31 have a very similar concept, concerning the management of the airflow at the rear.

“For our engineers, it was an extra confirmation that they have chosen the right development direction. They are convinced that this concept has the potential for further development,” added Sauber.

Sergio Perez’s backer has admitted a move for the Mexican driver to Ferrari is not out of the question for 2013.
Already a part of Ferrari’s driver programme, Perez is also strongly backed by Telmex, the telcom headed by the world’s richest man, Carlos Slim.

Slim’s son, Carlos Slim Domit, controls Telmex’s formula one programme, which is currently in the form of sponsorship of the Ferrari-powered Sauber team.

But Perez, 22, is tipped to replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari next year.

“His most important challenge is this season,” Slim Domit told Spain’s AS sports newspaper.

“A good championship in 2012 can put him into the frame with the best teams, but a bad year would have the opposite effect,” he admitted.

“It is true that there is a relationship with Ferrari on two levels — with them being the engine supplier of Sauber and the other because he (Perez) is in their young (driver) programme.

“It’s a tough sport where results matter and, as such, the future will be clearer,” added Slim.

He was also asked if Telmex has considered buying a F1 team, amid reports recently that the Slim family is interested in struggling HRT.

“I don’t know,” answered slim. “In our case, being not directly involved allows us to select the team we work with and we do not change our strategy.”

F1 commentators have been told to “shut up” before denouncing newcomers to the sport as mere “pay-drivers”.

It has been said that Vitaly Petrov only kept his Renault seat this year thanks to his Russian millions, while Sergio Perez has brought the backing of Mexican giant Telmex to the Sauber team in 2011.

Both performed spectacularly in Melbourne last weekend, with Petrov achieving his first ever podium and rookie Perez the only driver in the field to manage a one-stopper on the new Pirelli tyres.

“I know why I’m in F1 and why some people call me that (a pay-driver),” Perez is quoted in a French-language AFP report.

“I’ve always had confidence in myself but it feels good to shut the mouths of those who have not stopped telling me I’m here because I paid for my seat.”

Petrov has a similar attitude about being called a pay-driver.

“If someone says this, I say ‘Shut up! I don’t want to listen to this’,” said the Russian.

“I don’t want people to think that we are here just because of money,” Petrov told The Independent.

“My father wanted to blow all the money the family has and the business,” he said sarcastically, “but after a few races in F1 you can see that I am not here just because of money.”

Sergio Perez has denied his major sponsor Telmex is positioning to buy control of the Sauber team.

The Mexican telcom will have significant signage on next year’s C30, and its figurehead Carlos Slim – the richest man in the world – has been seen at several grands prix recently.

But boss Peter Sauber earlier this month denied he is considering selling the Hinwil based team, and Slim said the deal is a “commercial alliance” rather than a precursor to a greater involvement.

But when told that the rumours about Telmex buying Sauber still exist, rookie driver Perez said: “No, that’s not true.

“Telmex is entering as a sponsor and nothing more,” he is quoted by the AS newspaper.

The rumours are retaining their strength because Perez will be joined at the team by another Mexican, the test driver Esteban Gutierrez.

“Esteban and I are here because Sauber decided to sign us,” Perez, 20, insisted.

He also backed Fernando Alonso to win the 2010 world championship.

“He doesn’t have as good a car as the Red Bull drivers, but he is the best driver,” said Perez.

Ex-Sauber driver Pedro de la Rosa to bring in his fellow countrymen of HRT to continue his racing career in position
Originally, Pedro de la Rosa as a prime candidate for a Campos-Formula 1 cockpit, but tilted as the project and was later renamed the HRT was no place for him anymore. He also opted for the Sauber team, which he could at the time the supposed offer better prospects.

Sauber has thrown out the 39-year-old now – and lack of alternatives can imagine the current Pirelli test driver means, 2011 to drive for HRT. He was in contact with the family Carabantes, who runs the Spanish cycling team, he says, and adds to the news agency ‘EFE’ to: “If your project is sporty interesting and ambitious, then I will gladly come to them.” Currently, there is but “no hurry”.
De la Rosa would probably not bring their own sponsors, but his salary was reportedly financed at least in Sauber by the bank Santander. Could also cause a Spaniard in a Spanish team of national interest and bring in this way be indirectly sponsors. It is striking in any case, how much the veteran currently ingratiate the worst team of Formula 1.

“For Spain, it is important to a Formula 1 team to have, and their investment is worth something,” de la Rosa says of the Carabantes. “We have a team, but we do not receive the best value within a few months they have brought a car to the starting line and next year they will again have a car, but the project needs more support -. Not only for companies but also by riders like me and the fans. We need to stand behind them! “

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber drove in the second practice of Singapore’s fastest time – Adrian Sutil and Fernando Alonso on the pitch

top times of Sebastian Vettel on Friday from Singapore: The German Red Bull driver sat in the second session under the lights sovereign against his team-mate Mark Webber by and himself at the head of the time classifications. Vettel 1:46.660 minutes required for one orbit to the nearly five-kilometer route, pointing his pursuers significantly to the courts.

Webber-classified with more than six tenths of second place in front of Jenson Button (McLaren), who in turn lost a second on Vettel. Fernando Alonso (McLaren) took fourth place was 20 minutes before the expiry of the time, however, doomed to watch. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) took the checkered flag in fifth position, Rubens Barrichello (Williams) finished in sixth place.
The other ranks in the top 10 went to Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Robert Kubica (Renault) and Michael Schumacher (Mercedes), the first time in Singapore is on the move. Returnees Nick Heidfeld was seen just behind Nico Hulkenberg (Williams) and his Sauber team-mate Kamui Kobayashi and # 13, Timo Glock (Virgin) was 20th

A moment of shock experienced while Adrian Sutil (Force India): The German despoils about halfway through the second free practice a little too wild about the curbs at Turn ten and then lifted off, even briefly. When landing, the left front suspension breaks down, so that Sutil had to stop the training operations in a few curves – was too much broken.
Almost 20 minutes before the end of the session Alonso also suffered from premature – by the way just at the point where Sutil had parked his VJM03. Alonso also afforded a driver error and was starting to slip slightly from curve 17, but his Ferrari caught again. The Spaniard, however, missed the entrance to turn 18 and had to turn in the run-off area.

There Alonso put the car in reverse and steered back onto the track his F10, stranded there just to good: The engine died off and Alonso had to get off – and that under the previous best time in the first sector and a personal top times in the second branch. Whether the Ferrari driver at the top Vettel could endanger must therefore remain uncertain.

Even with greener and more road relevant engine rules on their way for formula one, BMW is not expected to return any time soon.

That is the view of Dr Mario Theissen, the German carmaker’s motor sport director and former BMW-Sauber team principal.

BMW pulled out of formula one at the end of last year, insisting that its focus will instead be directed towards “sustainability and environmental compatibility”.

In 2013, F1 will install a new engine formula, featuring small turbo 4-cylinder units with an emphasis on energy-recovery KERS technology.

But when asked by 422race.com if it will entice BMW back onto the grid, Theissen answered: “Don’t expect that.”

Instead, BMW is focusing on Le Mans-style sports car programmes and probably the German DTM series.

“When we pulled out, this was a decision for many years, because it takes many years to put something together like this,” added Theissen.

“And the main reason was that we wanted to focus on production car racing instead of formula car racing.”

Fernando Alonso has refused to criticise the Sauber team for ousting fellow Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa.

De la Rosa has been replaced with immediate effect by former long-time Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld, 14 races into de la Rosa’s return to the F1 grid.

“From the outside, we don’t know what happened. You can’t really judge these sorts of decisions that a team makes,” said Alonso, whose employer Ferrari supplies engines to Hinwil based Sauber.

“All I can do is send all the encouragement in the world to Peter and to tell him to keep fighting, because he is a fighter,” added the two-time world champion to Spanish newspapers.

“With Sauber it didn’t work out and hopefully he will get another chance,” said Alonso.

Before 2010, 39-year-old de la Rosa spent the previous seven years as McLaren’s test driver, but he vowed not to give up his desire to keep racing in F1.

The veteran of 84 grands prix told TV broadcaster Sport1: “I will come back.

“It will be difficult, but I’ve done it before and I will do it again,” added former Arrows and Jaguar driver de la Rosa.

Jun.17 (GMM)  Nick Heidfeld is tipped to combine an ongoing role as Mercedes’ reserve driver next year with a race cockpit in the German touring car series DTM.

The 33-year-old said recently he wants to be back on the F1 grid in 2011 because “I feel too young for DTM or for taking part in Le Mans”.

But with many teams likely to secure unchanged driver lineups next year, Heidfeld admitted this week: “I’m afraid that the top ten seats are gone already.”

Now, in the Auto Plus column of the well-known French TF1 journalist-commentator Jean-Louis Moncet, veteran of 167 grands prix Heidfeld may be leaning towards a move to DTM.

But Heidfeld would combine the 2011 seat, presumably in one of the Mercedes-powered DTM cars, with an ongoing role at grands prix, Moncet added.

The same split is being managed this year by David Coulthard, who races a 2008 C-Class as well as attending F1 events as a British television pundit and occasional Red Bull reserve driver.

However, Germany’s Bild newspaper recently said Sauber, currently fielding Pedro de la Rosa alongside Kamui Kobayashi, could host Heidfeld’s return to formula one in 2011.

Heidfeld drove for the independent Sauber team between 2001 and 2003, and then again with BMW ownership in 2006-2009.

In what was a thrilling Canadian Grand Prix with great motor racing. Kamui Kobayashi and Pedro de la Rosa played a rather insignificant role. Kobayashi, coming from 18th on the grid, retired in an incident on lap one after he made a remarkably good start and was fighting for ninth on the back straight. De la Rosa (17th on the grid) was hit by another car on the first lap and had to pit for a new nose. But he managed to recover and raced in 13th before he retired with an engine failure which has yet to be analysed.

Weather: sunny and dry, 25-26°C air, 37-39°C track

Pedro de la Rosa: retired on lap 31, engine
C29.03 / Ferrari 056
“To be left empty handed certainly is deeply disappointing. On the first lap of the race Vitaly Petrov spun in front of me on the straight, and hit my car when he came back from the grass. The front wing was broken and I pitted for a new nose. Also the rear wing had some damage, but it wasn’t too bad. I then continued and the car was quite good. We anticipated my pit stop because suddenly the rear tyres went. After this pit stop it seemed all okay but then on lap 31 I felt a sudden loss of top speed on the straight and knew immediately it was a serious problem.”

Kamui Kobayashi: retired on lap 1, accident
C29.01 / Ferrari 056
“This should not have happened. I had made a very good start from 18th and on the first lap was fighting with Nico Hülkenberg down the back straight for ninth. In front of us was Michael Schumacher, apparently having some troubles with braking before the chicane. All three of us were braking late and then I suddenly had nowhere to go. I hit the kerb, the car jumped and I had damaged it so badly that I had to stop.“

Peter Sauber, Team Principal:
“As is often the case in Canada, it was easy to score championship points today, however, we didn’t collect them. We lost one car which was in tenth at the end of lap one through an over optimistic move, and the second one through an engine failure.”

James Key, Technical Director:
“All in all it was a really difficult weekend and a shame not to get to the end. Pedro had a collision in the mix of the first corner, which damaged his rear right tyre and front wing, so he had to come straight in. Kamui made an excellent start. He took advantage of the situation in front of him and got up to tenth. But then in the last corner he spun off – that was the end of his race. There was too much damage to the car to continue, which was a real shame because there was potential to score some points. When Pedro went out after his early pit stop his pace was extremely good, and he caught up to the people ahead of him. He then came in for a second stop because of the tyres degrading. We hoped he would make it to the end but then he had an engine problem which we need to diagnose. That was a pointless end to a difficult weekend, so we have to do better in the next race.”

source: Sauber F1 Team

The HRT and Sauber teams have moved to play down speculation that suggests their driver lineups may soon change.

In recent days, reports have said Bruno Senna might be replaced at the new Spanish team HRT by the higher-paying Japanese reserve driver Sakon Yamamoto.

And persistent speculation has dogged Sauber’s Pedro de la Rosa this year, with the latest reports saying Italian GP2 driver Luca Filippi could become Kamui Kobayashi’s new teammate.

Both teams released interviews to the media on Thursday.

HRT’s interview quoted team boss Colin Kolles as suggesting he is happy with both Senna and his fellow rookie teammate Karun Chandhok.

“Karun and Bruno are very talented young drivers which developed well in the first races,” he said.

“I am confident and looking forward Bruno and Karun doing a good job in the coming races which will improve the overall performance of the team,” added Kolles.

He also said both Yamamoto and Christian Klien “did a good job” as they recently tested on Friday morning practice sessions.

Meanwhile, Sauber’s official interview was with Japanese rookie Kobayashi, and one question asked if he is enjoying working alongside the veteran de la Rosa.

“Pedro is a very nice guy, and with all his experience he is a really good teammate for me,” he answered.

“I’m the rookie, he knows everything and he shares it with me,” added the 23-year-old.

(GMM)

Pedro de la Rosa has admitted he was asked to hold station behind his Sauber teammate at the end of the Turkish grand prix.

Kamui Kobayashi scored the Swiss team’s first point of the 2010 season on Sunday, but his veteran teammate Pedro de la Rosa was mere tenths from his rear wing at the chequered flag.

“I am very happy to have been competitive, but I wanted something more,” he is quoted by the Spanish sports newspaper Marca.

“I was close to the points but when you have to fight your teammate for it, it is difficult,” added de la Rosa.

“I had to restrain myself.  I wanted to attack him but on the radio they said other things,” revealed the 39-year-old Spaniard.

(GMM)

May 3 (GMM)  One of James Key’s first tasks as technical director will be to oversee a “small restructuring” of the struggling Sauber team.

In the wake of former owner BMW’s departure and founder Peter Sauber’s return as privateer, the Hinwil based squad has struggled notably with the pace and reliability of the C29.

Key, newly arrived in long time technical director Willy Rampf’s wake, said on Monday he has completed his initial analysis after switching from Force India.

“It requires a slightly new approach to the way certain areas work to make better use of the size the team is now,” he said.

“In the short term there is going to be a small restructuring within the technical group, which I have just started instigating.

“This should allow the team to be more in tune with the smaller organisation it is now, particularly in terms of the efficiency of its operation,” added Key.

Apr.23 (GMM)  Speculation doubting the future of Pedro de la Rosa’s race seat at Sauber continues.

It was rumoured last week that, with Peter Sauber admittedly disappointed with the time it is taking the former McLaren tester to reacclimatise to racing, Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado – and his sponsors – could be drafted in to replace him.

Now, France’s Auto Hebdo said Luca Filippi is another possible replacement for 39-year-old de la Rosa, who had been signed to lead the development of the disappointing C29 car.

Italian Filippi, 24, is an experienced GP2 driver who has also had tests with the F1 teams Minardi, Honda and Super Aguri.

The French report on Thursday said he might become Kamui Kobayashi’s new Sauber teammate at the Turkish grand prix late next month.

“It would be a dream,” Filippi is quoted as saying, “but I prefer to concentrate on (new series) Auto GP.”

When linked with a Super Aguri seat some years ago, it was rumoured that Filippi’s sponsors were promising around 10 million euros in backing.