Formula 1

Sauber on the right track

After a testing session at Valencia and the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain last week, Sauber is reasonably happy with the early results from the C22. Drivers Nick Heidfeld and Heinz-Harald Frentzen took turns behind the wheel of the new car were ...

Edited: Jan 30, 2003, 3:00 AM

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After a testing session at Valencia and the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain last week, Sauber is reasonably happy with the early results from the C22. Drivers Nick Heidfeld and Heinz-Harald Frentzen took turns behind the wheel of the new car were pleased by the initial performance. Team boss Peter Sauber thinks things are going in the right direction, although he is not necessarily happy about the times being set.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

Photo by Sauber Petronas.

The reliability of the C22 has been very good so far but there is much more aerodynamic work to be done: "In a new car, the most important point is aerodynamics," Sauber told Blick. "It's aerodynamics that are responsible for the lap times. This is where we have to improve, work is the word. But we are on the right track!"

Tyres are a big part of the workload and Sauber ran a Bridgestone programme while testing -- but as Ferrari is the tyre manufacturers number one consideration, other teams have to be patient for results: "Bridgestone's development depends almost exclusively on Ferrari," said Sauber. "Being number two with the Japanese company, we can't do anything but wait."

BAR, Renault, Jordan and Toyota are the other teams that have so far tested their 2003 contenders and Sauber thinks Toyota could spring a surprise: "Renault seems to be damned fast," he commented. "Jordan is still a question mark, BAR-Honda surely will make a step forward -- and in its second year, Toyota will surprise more than just us."

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