Breaking news
Formula 1
Sauber to halt 2018 car development
Sauber will stop development of its 2018 Formula 1 car next week, the team having decided to make an early switch to focus on next year's challenger.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Jul 21, 2018, 12:14 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Although the team is making rapid progress this season, and is just three points behind Toro Rosso for eighth in the standings, the outfit feels its long-term future is better served in doing as much as it can for 2019.
Team principal Frederic Vasseur believes that the aerodynamic rule changes coming for next year, which include a heavily revised front wing, means there is a chance of making good gains if it gets a head-start over the opposition.
"At one stage, and that stage is next week, we will stop the development of the car because the new regulations are an opportunity for us," said the Frenchman.
"At least I consider the new regulations an opportunity, and we have to be fully focused on next year.
"So we will fully stop 2018 next week but we are focused on 2019 for months."
Although the decision to switch full focus means the second half of the campaign could be difficult, Vasseur has no worries about the situation.
"You don't have to be scared about this. It is the wrong attitude," he said. "You have to be fully focused and trust your capacity.
"And if we are able to catch up today, starting at the back, we must have to be able to do the same next year starting with everybody on the same level."
Additional reporting by James Roberts and Adam Cooper
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article German GP: Fresh F1 tech updates, direct from the garages
Next article Marchionne could step down from Ferrari role early
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Sauber
Sebastian Vettel reveals why BMW didn't want him – but Red Bull did
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sebastian Vettel reveals why BMW didn't want him – but Red Bull did
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
Formula 1
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
Lewis Hamilton 'almost signed for Sauber' before F1 debut, says Peter Sauber
Formula 1
Formula 1
Barcelona-Catalunya Pre-Season Testing
Lewis Hamilton 'almost signed for Sauber' before F1 debut, says Peter Sauber
Latest news
What was Kimi Antonelli’s best moment of his F1 title-winning campaign? Our writers have their say
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
37 min
What was Kimi Antonelli’s best moment of his F1 title-winning campaign? Our writers have their say
'There’s more to come' as IndyCar and NASCAR leaders eye future doubleheaders
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 57 min
'There’s more to come' as IndyCar and NASCAR leaders eye future doubleheaders
Johann Zarco says “I didn’t want to break the engine” after Malaysian GP DNF
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
2 h
Johann Zarco says “I didn’t want to break the engine” after Malaysian GP DNF
Homestead NASCAR Viewer's Guide: Everything you need to know for the season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
2 h
Homestead NASCAR Viewer's Guide: Everything you need to know for the season finale
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe