It can sometimes feel that the stand-out feature of Sauber is quite how forgettable it can be. Without the resourcefulness of Force India, the world champion production line of Toro Rosso or the flashes of brilliance of Williams, Sauber all too often fades into the background. In recent years it’s been its financial problems that have made the headlines rather than its on-track success. In the team’s 24-year history its achieved only 10 podiums, the latest of which was way back in 2012.
But maybe that’s all about to change. An increased relationship with Ferrari fuels hopes for improvement. For 2018 Sauber has secured the most anticipated up-and-coming talent since Max Verstappen burst onto the scene. Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc conquered GP3 in 2016 in his debut season and went on to do the same in Formula 2 last year. There’s an air of expectation surrounding the 20-year-old and real excitement about what he could do. On the other side of the garage, Marcus Ericsson has been retained by the team for a fourth season, providing experience and continuity, if not tremendous pace, for the team.
There is also hope that Leclerc might have machinery somewhat worthy of his talent. The 2018 challenger is quite different aerodynamically from its predecessor and the team is optimistic that they can improve compared to its 2017 performance. Also for the new season Sauber will be using the same engines as Ferrari, rather than the year-old ones they ran in 2017. There’s no hiding the fact that the early evidence from testing doesn’t look promising, with Leclerc struggling to tame the difficult Sauber. There has been no miraculous leap up the timing sheets but while it has been admitted that the updated engine may only save the Swiss outfit a couple of tenths of a second, the closer relationship with Ferrari has also brought the team other benefits.
Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne was keen to bring the Alfa Romeo name back into F1 for the first time in thirty years and by partnering up the Italian manufacturer with Sauber both sides have benefitted from the burst of optimism. In Alfa Romeo, Sauber has a title sponsor with a rich history in F1, and while there is no quick fix to the team’s problems there is a feeling that progress can be made. Every department is increasing its manpower. If Sauber ever had the opportunity to build the foundations of a competitive outfit it is now.
The tightening of the Ferrari ties is the work of team principal Fredric Vasseur. The Frenchman took over from Monisha Kaltenborn in the summer and immediately scrapped her plans to use the Honda engine in 2018. Vasseur previously steered Renault through its first year back in F1 in 2016 and proved himself adept at sparking the rebuilding progress. This year will be a chance for him to further put his stamp on Sauber.
If everything goes that can go right does go right for Sauber in 2018 they have their best chance of being competitive since the heady podium heights of 2012. But as ever, sadly, it would be unwise to pin too much hope on the team delivering.
