Sauber

Sauber AG , renamed later PP Sauber , was a stable of automobile race rested by Peter Sauber and based with Hinwil in Suisse. After multiple successes in championship of the world of Sport-Prototypes (26 victories and double champion in 1989 and 1990), the Sauber stable took part in the championship of the world of Formule 1 of 1993 with 2005. In 215 Grands Prix, Sauber registered 195 points, signed 6 podiums (6 third places) and carried out 3 turns at the head of a Grand Prix. The best qualification of Sauber is one 2nd place on the grid (Jean Alesi in Austria in 1998 and France in 1999). In 2005, the Sauber stable was repurchased by the German manufacturer BMW which renamed the team BMW Sauber as from the season 2006.

History

Sauber at the 24 hours of Mans and out of Sport-Prototypes

The Sauber stable, named at its beginnings Sauber AG , is based by Switzerland Peter Sauber, old driver on Volkswagen Coccinelle, in 1970. Sauber builds its own racing racing cars and 1977, argument the 24 hours of Mans. For her first participation, the team P.P.Sauber Ag-Fancy Racing, which engages Sauber C5- BMW 2 liters, gives up after fifteen hours of race to the 161e turn on oil escape. the following year the team, which engages the same car, carried out by a trio of Swiss pilots (Surer - Strähl-Blumer), gives up with the 257e turn, two lengths of 17th and last classified crew. The stable makes its return to Mans only in 1981 with Marc Surer and a BMW M1 which returns the heart to the 207e turn. In 1982, Sauber SHS C6 is entrusted to BASF TEAM GS Sport where Switzerland Walter Brun controls (which, like Peter Sauber, will engage later his stable Eurobrun in F1). The first car car gives up at the end of 55 hours following a failure of the starter and the second, controlled by Jean-Louis Schlesser and Hans Stuck does not concretize her beautiful qualification in 7th position while giving up at the end of 76 turns following a rupture of the driving support. It is necessary to await the edition 1983 24 hours of Mans, so that Sauber C7-BMW of Group C is finally classified, in the 9th place of general classification with 4606 kilometers traversed. In 1985, Peter Sauber leaves BMW and starts a partnership with Mercedes Benz. The stable misses to it stage coach in Mans in 1985 when C8-Mercedes turbo V8 5 liters does not take the departure of the race: John Nielsen knew with the tests an enormous fright by carrying out a gigantic loop with the passage of the bump of Hunaudières. Amazing chance for its pilot, after his caper, its car rested on its four wheels but Peter Sauber wisely decides not to engage the car for the race. The private stable of Roland Bassaler classifies, as consolation, its Sauber SHS C6 with the 23e final place with 3649 km traversed. For the edition 1986, the team engages under the name of her sponsor, Kouros, and entrusts Sauber C8-Mercedes to the crews Mike Thackwell - John Nielsen and Henri Pescarolo - Dieter Quester- Christian Danner which must give up the beginning of the race (at the end of 5 and 7 hours of race). Collaboration with Kouros, Pescarolo, Thackwell is prolonged in 1987 but again, the C9 news gives up with the first third of the race on accident. In 1988, C9 entrusted to Mauro Baldi, James Weaver and Mass does not take the departure following the accident with the tests of the other car (Klaus Niedzwiedz, Jochen Mass, Kenny Acheson). After four years with Mercedes and of the results in half-tone, the period ostentation is profiled starting from 1989. Sauber-Mercedes carries out one doubled with the 24 hours of Mans with Mass - Reuter-Dickens in front of Baldi - Acheson - Brancatelli at the wheel of Sauber C9. At the end of the season, Sauber takes down the titles pilot and stable of the championship of the world of Group C. In 1990, last year of the championship of the world, C11 make it possible the Swiss stable to preserve its two titles. The Groups C being replaced in 1991 by the Sport scars, Peter Sauber plans to change category and to cross the step towards Formula 1 with Mercedes since 1991, but Mercedes wishes more reflection before engaging. In 1991, the stable sets out again for a last season in Sport, season of transition since the decision is made by Sauber: with or without Mercedes, the future of the team is in the category-queen. C11, controlled in particular by Michael Schumacher and Karl Wendlinger, makes a turning by Mans and finishes 5th edition 1991.

In 1992, after 26 victories in Sport, gained in particular thanks to the presence of talented young people hopes of the automobile sport such as Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Karl Wendlinger or Michael Schumacher, the Sauber stable gives up any sporting engagement to be devoted to the implementation of its program in F1. After having carried to most Mercedes in Sport during seven seasons, the dispensary helvète has undoubtedly its place on a starting grid of F1 even if its personnel has only one tiny experience of the discipline. C12, conceived by Harvey Postlethwaite and Leo abstr. is tested during all the year. It is driven by a Ilmor V10 of 3500 Cm3 developing 710 ch with 13.300 turns/minute. During the winter, delivered the black chechmate of the single-seater is decorated of a logo " Concept by Mercedes" on the side of the engine cowling: Mercedes has just decided to give a support (for the simply financial moment) for its former partner.

1993: The beginnings Formulates 1 of them

The support of acquired Mercedes, Peter Sauber can be devoted to the recruitment of its pilots. Karl Wendlinger, ex- March Engineering but especially pilot Sauber in Sport is " obviously " adventure: Mercedes followed it and supported it since its beginnings in automobile sport. It is shouldered by Jyrki Järvilehto. The Finnish pilot disputed already 38 Grands Prix and registers 4 points within Onyx, Monteverdi and Scuderia Italia. He unloads in the Swiss stable thanks to the former engineer of track of Alain Prost within Ferrari, Luigi Mazzola, which worked regularly with Lehto when he was test pilot of Scuderia. Mazzola, once engaged at Sauber, warmly recommended the first Finnish pilot in F1 since Keke Rosberg when it been necessary to find a fellow-member with Wendlinger.

As of the first Grand Prix of the season, in Kyalami, the two single-seaters are qualified magistralement (Lehto 6th, Wendlinger 10th). The race especially will make it possible the stable to carry out a small exploit: to register its first points for its first participation thanks to Lehto, 5th on arrival. The following tests appear much less satisfactory since although the pilots qualify themselves regularly in first half of the grid, they collect only seldom the flag with checkerworks. With Marine Saint, in spite of a new driving break-in, Lehto takes down the 4th place. It will not mark any more points thereafter but is relayed by Wendlinger which registers its first point with the GP of Canada that it finishes in the 6th place. He repeats in Hungary before being classified 4th in Monza then 5th in Portugal. The assessment of the season is constrasté: the 12 acquired points make it possible the team to point in the 6th place with the championship manufacturer but the lack of development of the single-seater in the course of season was worth with the team to undergo 15 abandonments due mechanics and to be made exceed with the classification by Ligier and Lotus.

1994: One season with Mercedes

For their second season 1 Formulates some, Sauber do not hide more their dealings with Mercedes. The Ilmor engine is officially rebadgé Mercedes and the logo " Concept by Mercedes" replaced by " Powered by Mercedes". The C13 news from now on is conceived by André de Cortanze (ex- Peugeot) and Leo abstr. and is driven by a Mercedes-Benz F0 110: indeed, during 1993, the German manufacturer repurchased 10% of Ilmor. V10 with 75° of 2997 Cm3 (to answer the new regulation as regards maximum cubic capacity) is lightest of the plate with 123 kg and develops 690 ch with 15.600 turns/minute. Unfortunately, at the beginning of season the single-seater is still equipped with XTrac a semi-automatic gear box in longitudinal position, cumbersome and obsolete provision (replaced later by a transverse box).

If Wendlinger remains within the stable, Lehto is recruited by Benetton and is replaced by another member of the " Junior TEAM Mercedes" , Heinz-Harald Frentzen which had run for two seasons in Formula Japanese. The inaugural Grand Prix of Brazil sees C13 being qualified in 5th and 7th position, Karl Wendlinger drawing started from its beautiful place on the grid to be classified in the 6th final place. At the time of the following test, with the GP of the Pacific, Frentzen registers its first points in F1 while being classified 5th. The test, of disaster report, Marine Saint makes it possible Wendlinger to equalize the performance of the former season since it takes down a beautiful 4th place.

The dash breaks starting from the Grand Prix of Monaco where all the stables fear the consequences which an exit ramp or a fixing could generate after the tragedies of Imola. And the worst occurs during the tests where Wendlinger, at the exit of the tunnel where the baffle requires a large deceleration, is embedded in the rail of safety to more than 270 km/h. Under perfusion at the edge of the track its state is considered to be critical and it is evacuated at the hospital of Monaco where it plunges in a coma which will last three weeks. Peter Sauber decides not to take part in the test and recruits Andrea de Cesaris (4th in Monaco on Jordan - Hart where it carried out a measuring rod to replace Eddie Irvine suspended) to mitigate the absence of Wendlinger. Sauber temporarily regain a footing with the Grand Prix of France (Frentzen is 4th, of Cesaris 6th) before undergoing 11 consecutive abandonments. It is not with the Grand Prix of Europe, antepenultimate of the season that Frentzen again manages to take down the point of the 6th place. Peter Sauber announces that Karl Wendlinger is given and can take part in the Grand Prix of Japan. De Cesaris leaves Sauber then before Wendlinger, in physical lack of condition, does not announce its fixed price. Not managing to contact the Italian, Peter Sauber points out JJ Lehto, (laid off by Flavio Briatore after 6 races at Benetton for lack of result) in order to dispute the two last tests. Frentzen again takes down the 6th place in Japan and, with 12 points, that is to say as much as in 1994, Sauber finishes in the 8th place of the championship of the world of the manufacturers.

1995-1996: The Ford years

At the end of 1994, Mercedes signs a partnership contract with McLaren which has just separated from Peugeot after only one season from collaboration (and in spite of 42 registered points and 8 podiums). The German firm not wishing to equip two stables, Sauber loses its principal basic financial backer and his motor mechanic. For 1995, Peter Sauber rebounds skilfully while negotiating with Ford the supply of the block Ford Zetec RECEIVE, engine derived from the block world champion 1994 with Michael Schumacher and Benetton. Ford V8 of 3497cm with 75° develops 630 ch with 14.000 turns/minute. The C14 news can be regarded as first true Sauber de F1. Its carbon hull is indeed for the first time cooked in the hermetically-sealed furnace of Hinwill and its design is due to Leo abstr. and André de Cortanze whereas C12 and C13 were only extrapolations of the model designed by Postlewaithe (which had left the team before even the first Grand Prix of its creation). The Swiss single-seater is distinguished from the others by its high protections on both sides it cockpit in order to retain the head of the pilot in the event of shock. This architecture of the cockpit, to connect directly to the accident of Wendlinger, will be made compulsory by the TRUSTED in 1996.

Karl Wendlinger, finally given after 6 hours of rehabilitation per day from its exit of the coma, finds its wheel while Frentzen pushes back an offer of Ron Dennis to remain faithful to Sauber which had left it its Japanese exile. The beginning of the season shows a double abandonment in Brazil on electric problem but, thereafter, the pilots glânent a whole series of small points to the wire of the season. Thus, Frentzen is classified 5th in Argentina, 6th in Imola, Monaco, Silverstone, 4th in Belgium before taking down its first podium with Monza. It marks last once at the time of the Portuguese test where it obtains the 6th place. The assessment is definitely less good for Wendlinger which does not have any more the aptitudes necessary for F1. It is temporarily replaced by Jean-Christophe Boullion after four races (three abandonments and one 13th place for better performance). The French registers 2 points with the Grand Prix of Germany and another in Italy. Wendlinger takes again its station for the two last races, without more success than before. The stable, with 18 points and 1 podium, is classified in the 7th place of the championship of the manufacturers. The future is less radiant in slides since Ford announces its intention to motorize the future stable Stewart Grand Prix by 1997 and refuses to prolong its contract with Sauber beyond 1996.

C15 of 1996 is drawn by Leo abstr. and receives a Ford-Cosworth engine of completely new design since it is about first V10 of the manufacturer, faithful to V8 since its entry Formulates 1 in 1967 of them. Cosworth understood that V10 architecture is the best possible compromise within the framework of the new technical regulation limiting the cubic capacity to 3 liters: the block of 2998 cm indeed develops 790 ch with 16.200 turns/minute. C15 is very neat aerodynamically but does not have a power-assisted steering. Peter Sauber, to pay his new engine, took down a double partnership of importance with Red Bull, Austrian firm specialized in the drinks énergisantes and Petronas Malaysian state enterprise which has the monopoly of exploration, the development and the production of all the resources oil in Malaysia.

The single-seaters are entrusted to faithful Frentzen whereas Karl Wendlinger leaves the world of Formula 1 and is replaced by thirty year English Johnny Herbert. Herbert with 80 Grands Prix with the meter (2 victories with Benetton the registered former season and 63 points) announces himself like a reinforcement of weight for the young team. The beginning of the season is catastrophic since that no single-seater collects the least point in five tests (the pilots receive the flag with checkerworks only with three recoveries). If mechanics is responsible for four abandonments, the pilots are not therefore free from reproaches. The clearing takes place in Monaco where, in spite of qualifications in medium of grid, the two pilots register large points, Herbert finishing on the podium in front of Frentzen 4th. The dantesques weather conditions of the test (3 pilots only buckle the two maximum hours of race) helped the Sauber pilots well, at ease under the rain. The German repeats with the Grand Prix following to Spain but the continuation the continuation of the season will be same barrel as the entâme of the year, the abandonments succeeding the abandonments, V10 Cosworth suffering of many youth problems. At the end of the year, Frentzen fails the door of the points at the time of the GP of Portugal (imitating Herbert 7th in Canada) before finally taking down a new point for the Grand Prix of fence in Japan. 1996 are the worst year for the Swiss team which only marks only 11 points on three occasions. At the championship of the world of the manufacturers, Sauber preserves however his 7th place. Ford confirms the failure to renew of the driving supply agreement, Stewart Grand Prix becoming the only partner of the Anglo-American motor mechanic. After having wiped the plasters of the Ilmor-Mercedes engine to let McLaren collect the fruits of its labor, Sauber is found in the same situation two years later. Peter Sauber then seeks a new driving supplier and valley of the contacts with Ferrari, the principal problem remaining the financing of this Ferrari-customer.

1997: Petronas with the help of Sauber

Sauber adopts for the season 1997 an engine Ferrari-customer. The terms of the contract stipulate that the name of the Italian manufacturer will not appear in the sides of that of Sauber, the relationship between the stable of Maranello and its Swiss counterpart remainder discrete and relatively distant (this partnership will be called into question on several occasions, in particular because of the high price of the Italian blocks). Thus, one will not see single-seaters " Sauber-Ferrari" , contrary to what will occur later (Red Bull Racing - Ferrari or Spyker F1 TEAM - Ferrari). The blocks are badges in the name of the historical sponsor of the Swiss stable: Petronas. Petronas V10 SPE 01D is directly from the engine Ferrari 046/1 with which Michael Schumacher took down three victories in 1996. Of a maximum power estimated at 760 ch with 14.500 turns/minute, it combines reliability and performances. C16, with very worked aerodynamics (on the level of the muzzle, the cockpit and the engine cowling), like its devancières, is conceived by Leo abstr. and falls under the line line of C15. With his wheel, Herbert is taken back and supported by Nicola Larini, former pilot-tester at Ferrari ground in Italian V10.

For its first Grand Prix within the Swiss stable, in Australia, Larini takes down the point of the 6th place whereas Herbert, however qualified well in 7th position gives up following a fixing with Jacques Villeneuve. Herbert must await the third GP of the year, in Argentina, to open his meter of points while failing the foot of the podium. At the conclusion of the Grand Prix of Monaco, Larini is unloaded following a dissension with Peter Sauber and will run never again in F1. It is replaced by its compatriot Gianni Morbidelli, initially engaged in Tourism on BMW. Morbidelli however disputed already 60 GP of Formula 1 (Scuderia Italia, Scuderia Minardi, Scuderia Ferrari, Arrows - Footwork Racing) and signed 1 podium. Johnny Herbert registers 2 new points in Spain and repetition with the Grand Prix of Canada while Morbidelli breaks an arm under tests and must be replaced in its turn. Norberto Fontana, third Sauber pilot, takes over temporarily the duties during three races, being classified by twice in the 9th place. In Hungary, the return of Morbidelli is eclipsed by the beautiful performance of Johnny Herbert which, left the medium of grid, finishes on the third walk of the podium. It misses repeating at the time of the following race with Spa but must be satisfied with the 4th final place. The English pilot registers his last point of the season at the time of the Japanese test where, Morbidelli, badly restored declares fixed price. Fontana takes again the wheel for the ultimate test with Jerez of Frontera but finishes with an anonymity 14th place. In championship of the world, the team finishes again 7th with 16 points, including 15 for only Johnny Herbert, logically taken back for the following season. The main issue of Peter Sauber is from now on to find a second pilot of the gauge of Herbert so progressing itself to the classification manufacturer. The stable must also conceive a completely new C17 news having to answer the new payment technical set up for 1998.

If max Welti, former chief technical officer, were unloaded and replaced by Tim Preston (ex- Williams) and Andrew Tilley (ex- Jordan), Leo abstr. is again charged to design the single-seater engaged with the championship of the world 1997. It attempts aerodynamically to draw a single-seater nearest possible to its devancière while respecting the new provisions of the technical payment. The C17 frames are thus broader, higher but the ways before and backs are reduced. Its weight is lower than 600 kg lawful controls on board what makes it possible to use a ballast in order to adapt the balance of the machine to each circuit, not crucial from now on since the new technical payment especially aims at making the single-seaters less stable in curves and with braking. C17 is driven by Petronas SPE 01 D new specification. This block with 10 cylinders out of V with 75° of 2.997 cm develops 770 ch with 14.800 turns/minute. It is about the ultimate evolution of the engine Ferrari 046/2. Its preparation is entrusted to Osamu Goto (responsible for the Sauber program at Ferrari), former head of the engines Honda at McLaren of the time of turbo V6. Goto managed to slightly reduce the weight of the engine, to lower its center of gravity of 10 mm, adopted a new crankshaft and improved the system of lubrication. The block is coupled with a longitudinal gear box with 6 reports/ratios.

C17 is entrusted to Johnny Herbert and another pilot of foreground, Jean Alesi (ex- Benetton). The French, who has a great experiment of the discipline (135 GP, 225 points registered, 1 victory, 4 poles, 4 better turns in race), must allow Sauber to register large points in optics to reach 5th or the 6th place of the championship of the manufacturers. From now on the Sauber team has a solid duet of thirty year pilots (they have both the same age, 33 years, with a margin of 15 days) which adds up 248 departures in F1.

The objectives of beginning of the season will be realized only partly. Herbert registers a first point at the time of the inaugural test in Australia and Alesi is classified 5th with the Grand Prix of Argentina then 6th with Imola. Nine races will have then to be awaited so that the blue single-seaters find the way of the points, Alesi taking down the podium at the time of the antepenultimate test then finishing 5th Grand Prix of Italy. Disappointment is all the more large as the pilots were classified with many recoveries with the door of the points (seven times at 7th or 8th place). If Sauber takes down the 6th place of the classification of the manufacturers, it registered only 10 points, on only five occasions. Johnny Herbert completely missed his season and Peter Sauber does not plan to prolong his contract, it of as much less than the financial future of the stable is not guaranteed, the Swiss owner having even to open his capital to be able to begin in championship in 1999.

1999-2000: The period of the difficulties

The season 1999 is announced difficult for the modest Swiss team. Sauber has to sell shares of its company and if Petronas always takes responsibility for its supply of the Ferrari block, Red Bull is not able to support sauber as much as do not do it the large manufacturers of tobacco who support the signal-teams. Peter sauber does not have the means (nor really the desire) of retaining Johnny Herbert recruited by Stewart Grand Prix and, for the first time since his beginnings Formulates 1 of them, must call upon pilot-paying. The new elected official is Pedro Diniz, heir to the owner of the chain of supermarkets and the company of Brazilian distribution CBD. Diniz already took the departure of 66 GP within the stables Corsica Forti, Ligier and Arrows. If it still misses pure speed, the Brazilian one is an adjuster attentive and a good finisher. The C18 news is like habit drawn by everlasting Leo abstr. which is satisfied slightly to improve C17 of the former season. A new block makes its appearance, Petronas SPE 03 has which develops 790 ch with 16.500 turns/minute. It is about an evolution of the Ferrari engine in its version GP of Italy 1998.

After two double abandonments at the beginning of season, Alesi registers a first point with the Grand Prix of Marine Saint then is imitated by Diniz at the time of the Canadian sleeve. This one repeats in England then in Austria, Alesi marking again only with the Grand Prix of fence in Japan. C18 gave up with 21 recoveries during the season, mainly because of the unreliability of the transmission-box unit speeds. Sauber had planned to use a gear box coming from Maranello but this one was too complex and expensive for the dispensary helvète. The new box with seven in-house ratios conceived quickly showed its limits. With only 5 points collected on five occasions, the year 1999 is worst of the stable which points only with the 8th rank of the championship manufacturers.

For 2000, Sauber makes the choice renew its technical staff in order to avoid the vexations of the previous year. Willy Rampf makes its return, Sergio Rinland, old from Benetton, becomes chief engineer and Jacky Eeckelaert, defector of Prost Grand Prix, takes under its cut the team in load of the tests. Enrique Bernoldi is recruited in time that third pilot while Alesi, left to Prost, is replaced by Mika Salo. The Finn has just realized in 1999 the best season of his career whereas he was initially without wheel. After three measuring rods for BAR where it replaced Ricardo Zonta wounded with the foot during the tests of the GP of Brazil, it replaces Michael Schumacher on F399 Ferrari following the accident of the German with Silverstone. Its two podiums acquired in six races typed in the eye of Peter Sauber. The single-seater designed by the duet Leo Abstr.-Sergio Rinland receives a new engine called Petronas SPE 04 A. It acts obviously of an engine Ferrari 049C standard Italy 1999 (supervised by Osamu Goto) which develops 805 ch with 16.500 turns/minute. Compared to the former generation, the engine lost 10 kg, has a lowered center of gravity and can use modest radiators of dimensions, an asset for the aerodynamic smoothness of the body.

The year begins well badly with an abandonment for Diniz and the disqualification (aileron nonin conformity) from Salo to the GP from Australia then the fixed price in Brazil. Salo registers a point with Imola then 2 in Monaco. It is necessary to await the Grand Prix of Austria so that the Finn takes down the point of the 6th place. It registers the last points of the season at the time of the following race in Germany. Diniz did not register only one point and the team finishes again in the 8th place of the championship. With 11 points collected in two years whereas the average was of 13 points per season of 1993 to 1997, Sauber is really in lose speed.

2001: The revival of the stable thanks to the young pilots

For 2001, Sauber takes the bull by the horns and engages a deep palace revolution in its stable too much humming. Sauber, in prey with financial problems, bitterly negotiates a partnership contract with the Credit Suisse, person receiving benefits world of finance departments whose principal seat is in Zurich. Sergio Rinland is dismissed after only one season and is replaced by Stephen Taylor discharged from McLaren. Leo abstr. is also discharged from the design of the C20 news conceived completely by Willy Rampf. The single-seater is distinguished from its devancière by a raised muzzle, bridge bulkier and of the flaps in front of the aft wheels, as on Ferrari. The engine Petronas 01A, resulting from Ferrari 049C, develops 805 with 815 ch with 16.500 turns/minute. He is announced for 105 kg, which is one of its principal assets with its lowered center of gravity. The exhausts of C20 lead from now on to the top of the engine cowling and either in the back diffuser. An enormous work of aerodynamic research and development was carried out (35 weeks in the blower of Emmens in Switzerland) and resulted in lengthening the footing of almost 3 cm.

To the level of the pilots, there still Peter Sauber gives a kick in the anthill. Only the Scuderia Minardi will make in the same way, all the other stables preferring to play the chart of stability. Sauber plays the chart of the " class-biberon" : Nick Heidfeld, old of the Junior TEAM Mclaren-Mercedes who does not count that 17 departures in F1 within Prost Grand Prix is the recruited first but the true surprise is the engagement of Kimi Räikkönen, which did not dispute that 23 races in the single-seater before slipping into the bucket of Sauber. The Finn however took down the championship of England of Formule Renault with seven victories in ten races and also signed two victories in three races in Euroseries de Formule Renault. As of its first turns of wheels at the wheel of C20, in Mugello, it forces the admiration of Michael Schumacher present for tests with Scuderia. The TRUSTED remains skeptic and to Räikkönen only one provisional superlicence one probationary period assujétie of four Grands Prix grants.

The Finn shows quickly that it deserves his superlicence while being classified 6th of its first Grand Prix, in Australia, where it pursues his young fellow-member who finishes with the foot of the podium. The following test is summarized with a double abandonment but as of the third race of the year, in Brazil, Heidfeld finishes on the third walk of the podium, behind David Coulthard and Schumacher. The two promoted young people will collect points throughout the season. Heidfeld is classified thus 6th in Spain, in France, in Great Britain, in Hungary and in the United States while Räikkönen is 4th in Austria, in Canada and 5th in Silverstone. With 21 points (and a podium) registered voters on 9 occasions, Sauber makes a success of its best year Formulates 1 and points of them in the 4th place of the championship of the world behind the untouchable signal-teams Ferrari, McLaren and Williams. Peter Sauber made a success of his bet, C20 registered in one season as many points as C19, C18 and C17 did not mark any in three years.

In 2002, Sauber is courted by many teams which wish to repurchase the contract of Kimi Räikkönen. Switzerland negotiates with McLaren which recovers the young wonder against seven semitrailers Mercedes new bright burning coal. Peter Sauber tries a new gamble by engaging another pilot of hardly 20 years, Felipe Massa. Brazilian the one season fate of Euro F3000 which it flew over by gaining four of the six tests. Previously it had taken down the championships of Europe and Italy de Formule Renault and was crowned champion of Brazil of Chevrolet Formula in 1999. Heidfeld, which registered 12 points in 2001, is obviously renewed for one second season. The C21 news is again conceived by Willi Rampf which attempted to rigidify its structure and to still polish aerodynamics. It is propelled by Petronas 02A, resulting from Ferrari 050 of the former season which develops 790 ch with 16.500 turns/minute. After a double abandonment at the time of the spectacular accident to the first turn of Ralf Schumacher, which eliminates eight pilots at the time of the first Grand Prix from the year, Sauber register their first points at the time of the second test, in Malaysia where Heidfeld is 5th front its fellow-member. The pilots again register preserve points to the GP of Spain (Heidfeld 4th Massa front). Brésilen marks a point in Europe again while the German finishes 6th in Silverstone and at the time of his national Grand Prix. With 11 points and one 5th place with the championship manufacturer, the assessment is correct for a team which still does not have the direct support of a large manufacturer. Fault of financial means, Sauber does not carry out enough tests of development so that the single-seater progresses significantly throughout the season. Frustration is all the more large as the pilots took down with five recoveries the 7th final place… Felipe Massa did not succeed in imitating Räikkönen, it was unmethodical and in withdrawal compared to its team-member during the first semi-season (three accidents) and if it were rather with his advantage in second started from season, it to hardly concretize because of the decline of the performances of its single-seater vis-a-vis competition.

In 2003, Willy Rampf conceives C22, in the line line of its devancières. It receives a new block Petronas 03A, resulting from Ferrari 051 of 2002 whose power is carried to 855 ch with 18.600 turns/minute, that is to say a profit of more than 50 ch. Felipe Massa, thanks to the partnership Sauber-Ferrari, leaves the Swiss stable temporarily to perfect its ranges as a test pilot of Scuderia and is replaced by Heinz-Harald Frentzen, of return in the stable of its beginnings after three chaotic seasons at Jordan, Prost and Arrows. Its Heidfeld compatriot continues for the third consecutive year his partnership with the Swiss team.

Frentzen shows that it did not lose anything of its talent by registering three points at the time of the inaugural Grand Prix to the antipodes and is classified 5th in Brazil. The new sporting payment makes it possible from now on the huits first to register points and Heidfeld benefits from it in Malaysia where it takes down the point of the 8th place. The continuation of the season is much more difficult since no other point is registered during four tests. With the GP of Europe, Heidfeld is classified again 8th before a new crossing of the desert of five Grands Prix. The penultimate test, disputed in the United States, makes it possible Frentzen to take down the podium while Heidfeld is classified 5th. With 19 points, Sauber moves back of a place to the championship of the manufacturers but dominates all the same the teams of factory Jaguar Racing and Toyota F1 TEAM differently easier financially.

2004: An increasingly close cooperation with Ferrari

C23 of the season 2004, officially conceived by Rampf, and presented in large pump to Salzburg makes from the polemical start: let us bridge inflated, the double side deflectors, the position of the rear view mirrors, the simple skittle replacing the traditional one doubles skittle, all in this single-seater points out the Ferrari F2003-GA of the previous year. C23 receives which more is a block Petronas 04A (870 ch with 18.800 turns/min) which is not other than old Ferrari 053 and, for the first time since collaboration Sauber-Ferrari, a gear box developed in Maranello. Some declare that the department research and development of Sauber worked only on the development of the blue color of the body… With the discharge of the Swiss team, the new ultramodern blower of Hinwil is in the course of construction and not - operational… The duet of pilots is entirely renewed, Frentzen leaving F1 to dispute the championship DTM with Opel while Felipe Massa made its return as a holder. It is shouldered by Giancarlo Fisichella, ex-Jordan, which finally signed its first victory Formulates 1 in 2003 of them after 142 departures.

Massed seems much to have polished its piloting within the development team of Scuderia since it takes down a first point as of the second Grand Prix of the year, in Malaysia. Fisichella must as for him have patience until the fifth GP, in Spain to be classified in the points (7th). It will be classified 8th in Budapest, in Italy and in Japan, 7th in China, 6th with the GP of Europe and Silverstone, 5th in Spa and 4th in Canada. Its fellow-member is not remains about it by registering 12 points on 5 occasions. With the end of the year, Sauber registered 34 points on 12 occasions and finishes the championship in the 6th place, dominating again Jaguar Racing and Toyota F1 TEAM.

2005: Last season before the repurchase by BMW

2005 mark a turning for the Swiss stable which asserts gradually its independence with respect to Ferrari. The stable has from now on a giant and ultramodern blower making it possible to carry out aerodynamic tests on scale 1. This installation also makes it possible to accommodate two single-seaters in order to study the influence of the aerodynamic flow of the first on the following one. Thanks to this new tool, Willy rampf conceives C24 radically different from C23 largely inspired by Ferrari F2003-GA. The Sauber news is more compact, more harmonious and the essence of the work concerned bridge and the engine cowling. The exhaust completely was also integrated in the body with levelling exits in order to better channel the flow of air. A block Petronas 05A, of 92 kg hardly, developed by Osamu Goto starting from Ferrari 053 is charged to transmit its 870 ch to 18.800 turns/minute. Giancarlo Fisichella, following its beautiful season 2004, was discharged by Renault F1 TEAM and is replaced by the former world champion Jacques Villeneuve. Canadian, unloaded at BAR because of relations conflict that it maintained with David Richards (which reproached him performances unworthy of its wages), made its return in F1 at the end of 2004 to replace Jarno Trulli the space of three races at Renault, without really convincing. It tries at Sauber, far from any pressure, to give again dash with its career while being likely however to break the wings vis-a-vis Felipe Massa from now on aguerri.

Massed registers the first points of the team in Bahrain where it is classified 7th while Villeneuve is classified with the foot of the podium at the time of the following race with Imola. One hard times are followed from there of three races before the Brazilian one does not miss in its turn the podium with the GP by Canada. Sauber, from now on in Michelin do not take the departure in Indianapolis following the crash landing of Ralf Schumacher caused by the failure of its gums and it is necessary to await the Grand Prix of France so that Villeneuve registers an additional point. He is imitated by Massa in Germany. The pilots will return once again in the points, finishing Villeneuve 6th with Spa and Massa making in the same way at the time of the Grand Prix of fence in China. With 20 points collected on 7 occasions, Sauber is classified 8th championship.

In slide, the season was hard for the modest Swiss dispensary. The loss of the support of Red Bull, which engaged its own team Red Bull Racing (by repurchasing Jaguar Racing), caused concerns for treasury, the Ferrari blocks costing more and more expensive. With increasingly heavy invoices and sponsors increasingly difficult to canvass, Peter Sauber, with the head of a stable to still healthy finances and ultramodern infrastrucures, prefers to seek a transferee rather than to let the situation worsen. It is in this context that BMW announces, in June 2005, the repurchase of Sauber-Petronas in order to take part in the championship 2006.

PP Sauber-Petronas thus disappears from F1 at the end of the season 2005. Peter Sauber keeps however a role of advising within the new stable, renamed BMW Sauber F1 TEAM in November 2005 in homage to his founder who always made pass the future of his stable before his personal interests (the maintenance of the site of Hinwill with its employees was a condition so that Peter Sauber sells his stable at BMW). Sauber remains the last private stable whose results forced admiration in spite of financial means limited. The thirteen deserving seasons of Sauber in F1 proved that a private stable, if it were correctly managed, could remain in the middle of the large manufacturers.

Results in championship of the world of Formula 1

Results in championship of the world of the sport scars

Results at the 24 hours of Mans

See too

BMW Sauber F1 TEAM
Official site of the stable (in English and German)

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