Sauber set to be the first team to launch 2017 car

Sauber will become the first team to reveal its 2017 Formula 1 car when it publishes images of the C36 on social media on February 20.

The Swiss outfit is set to conduct a filming day two days later on February 22 in Barcelona ahead of the first of two tests, which begin the following week.

Sauber was forced to run a year-old car in the first pre-season test last year, but has avoided a similar fate this time round and was one of the first teams to pass its crash test.

However, it will be running a year-old engine this season in what is expected to be the final year of its eight-year engine partnership with Ferrari.

Question marks still remain over the fitness of Sauber’s newest driver, Pascal Wehrlein, who suffered a neck injury after a crash at the Race of Champions event in Miami last month.

Marcus Ericsson will join the 22-year-old German in driving for the Swiss F1 outfit in 2017, competing in his third successive season for the team.

2017 car launch dates so far

Feb 20: Sauber

Feb 21: Renault

Feb 22: Force India

Feb 23: Mercedes

Feb 24: McLaren / Ferrari

Feb 26: Toro Rosso