Sauber F1 Team has today unveiled its new car for the 2015 F1 season, the C34, as it looks to bounce back from its worst ever campaign and return to the top ten this year.
The Swiss team failed to score a single point in 2014, leaving it tenth in the constructors’ championship come the end of the season as financial uncertainty threatened its future both on and off track.
However, the ship appears to have now been steadied, and today’s launch of the C34 marks a fresh start for Sauber as new drivers Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr look to take the team back into the points in 2015.
Nasr’s arrival helped the team to secure sponsorship from Banco do Brasil, whose colors dominate the new car. Blue and yellow replace the grey design of 2014, seeing a significant change in the team’s image.
“2014 was a very disappointing year,” team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said. “However, this is in the past, and we now focus on what comes next.
“We have learned our lessons and are confident for the new season. We have to improve, and be able to fight for championship points.”
Kaltenborn was quick to praise the all-new driver line-up that Sauber boasts for 2015, expressing her confidence about the partnership between Ericsson and Nasr.
“I am delighted about our two new drivers who bring a breath of fresh air,” she said. “Both are young, talented and highly motivated. On their way to Formula 1 both stood out through victories in Formula BMW and Formula 3. Both then finished this career progression off in the GP2 Series.
“While Marcus looks back to one season in Formula 1, Felipe will have his rookie year in which he comes fully prepared due to his role as test and reserve driver at Williams last year. I feel confident with regard to our drivers.”
The car does appear to be quite light on sponsors, but both Nasr and Ericsson do have significant backing. Many of the team’s Mexican backers will have departed at the end of 2014 along with Esteban Gutierrez, who has since joined Ferrari, but a new deal with computing giant Hewlett-Packard was announced four days ago.With neither Marussia nor Caterham looking capable of making a late revival and reaching the grid in Melbourne, Sauber enters the 2015 season as the defacto backmarker. However, it will be the mission of Kaltenborn, Ericsson and Nasr to fight back and get the good times flowing once again at Hinwil.
With neither Marussia nor Caterham looking capable of making a late revival and reaching the grid in Melbourne, Sauber enters the 2015 season as the defacto backmarker. However, it will be the mission of Kaltenborn, Ericsson and Nasr to fight back and get the good times flowing once again at Hinwil.