Sauber on Sunday became the latest Formula One team to unveil their car for the new season and predict that reliability, rather than speed, will be crucial in the early stages of dealing with challenges presented by the new rules and technical specifications.
The Sauber C33-Ferrari will be driven by Mexican Esteban Gutierrez who was with the team last season and German Adrian Sutil who moved from Force India.
It will take to the track for the first time during the opening preseason testing session in Jerez, Spain, which starts onTuesday.
Looking ahead to the new season team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said: “Due to the radical changes in the technical regulations, predictions are simply impossible to make at this stage.
“Even more so than in previous years, any impression of how the teams stand against each other will only emerge once winter testing has been completed.
“That is also when we will announce our goals for the 2014 season. One thing’s for sure; reliability will be of the essence, especially at the beginning of the season.”
The new car is powered by a 1.6 V6 twin-turbo provided by Ferrari, who also supply the energy recovery system and carbon gearbox which has eight forward gears. The engine has a rev limit of 15,000rpm and a maximum of 100kg of fuel can be used for each race. Previously there was no limit.
The appearance of the car is similar to the other cars that have been revealed so far in that it has basically been redesigned from the floor up, has new aerodynamics and a very low, snout-like nose.
Sauber’s chief designer, Eric Gandelin, said: “We know what kind of package we have put together here, but it is difficult to foresee what shape our rivals are in.
“The earliest opportunity to gain an impression where the teams are in relation to one another will come during testing.
“The path we have followed with the design of the Sauber C33-Ferrari allows us maximum flexibility so that we can react quickly. Reliability will be an important factor in the first few races so this is an area which we have given very high priority."
The roll-out car which will be used in Jerez will be without a number of performance parts which will be introduced for the two later tests in Bahrain.
Gandelin added: “On the one hand this gives us time to maximise the development of these performance relevant parts and on the other hand we can run the car during the first test and check all the systems which we feel is crucial, considering all the technical changes.”
Sauber had a difficult first half of last season but improved as the campaign went on to finish seventh in the constructors championship. Kaltenborn believes they can learn from the lessons of 2013.
The drivers are also cautiously optimistic that they can do well this season. Gutierrez who has been with the Swiss team for four years, one as a race driver finished in down in 16th place last season.
He said: “I had a steep learning curve but working together with the team, I was able to make steady progress. The 2014 season will be a huge challenge on the technical front, which makes it all the more important to know the people you work with well. I feel ready for the next step.”
Sutil said: “After six good years in the same team it was time for me to look for a new challenge. In recent years the team has repeatedly demonstrated its potential, not least in the second half of last season. I can’t wait to take on the challenge.”
