Sauber 2012

[marcush.]

one would think that Audi could not use the Hinwil facility in BMW ownership times ?

[SRK]

Of course they couldn't. Cooperation related only R8 and was ended before BMW deal.

[raymondu999]

Wasn't the Sauber tunnel (at least in its latest iteration) a WIllem Toet project? I seem to remember he was the one to really modernise it, and I believe he was for Ferrari too before that?

[PhantomPoster]

Do you think they're back now? Would they have been using their windtunnel?

[raymondu999]

Audi uses it for their LMP program IIRC. The R18 Audi LMP used it AFAIK

[PhantomPoster]

So surely with VAG looking likely to come into the sport for the new engines, Sauber are the obvious candidate to be bought?

[marcush.]

"We understand the wind tunnel used for the scale development of the R18 was none other than the Sauber F1 team's BMW tunnel. This would signal a break with Fondtech, Audi's traditional aerodynamics development partner. Allegedly some within Audi felt there were issues with the Fondtech wind tunnel that culminated in concerns about its accuracy over the course of the development of the Audi R15. As a result, we understand that the R15 relied more heavily on CFD as it's development progressed given the emerging lack of confidence in the Fondtech facility. That the Fondtech facility had been used to develop the highly successful Audi R8 and R10 should be noted."

source http://www.mulsannescorner.com

[SRK]

http://jonsibal.com/bpimages/AudiR18_9.jpg
http://www.flagworld.com/photos/d/62596 ... nwil+1.jpg

[ESPImperium]

Factory Tour:

[mx_tifoso]

Siganme los buenos!

From the Sauber PR statement for Monaco:

Sergio is racing with a unique helmet design which is dedicated to Roberto Gómez Bolaños at the Monaco Grand Prix. The Mexican writer, actor, director, comedian, humorist, songwriter and poet, who is best known by his stage name “Chespirito”, is a cultural icon all over Latin America as well as being famous in the United States. Despite being severely ill, with the entire nation concerned for his health, the 83-year old had a video conference with Sergio on Monday and thanked him for his support. Two helmets with this special design have been made. One will be handed to Chespirito, Sergio’s idol, and the other will be the first item to be auctioned for the newly founded “Fundacion Checo Pérez”. This foundation will support various projects, and the money raised for the helmet will be for orphans in Mexico.

http://motorsport.nextgen-auto.com/gall ... medium.jpg

I grew up with this actors characters, just like my parents did. Gracias por todo Chespirito, has mejorado las vidas de todos tus adoradores!

[350matt]

What do you think guys?
Some early posturing to get a better deal from Ferrari?

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11208064697 ... ri-in-2014

text as follows:

Sauber has not decided if it will stay with Ferrari power in 2014.

The Swiss team has expressed grave doubts about the increased costs of renting engines for the radical new V6 regulations in 2014.

Before and after Sauber's recent BMW era, the independent Hinwil based team was and is a longstanding Ferrari customer, but the current agreement runs only to the end of the V8 era.

"It is obvious that we will go first to our current engine partner, because we have a long shared history," chief executive Monisha Kaltenborn told the German website motorsport-total.com.

"But it's all open, because I think they themselves (Ferrari) also do not know much more than us about certain conditions."

With the apparent demise of Craig Pollock's 2014 venture Pure, and the likelihood that Cosworth will bow out of F1 prior to the V6 era, Sauber's options appear limited to either Ferrari, Mercedes or Renault.

Kaltenborn continued: "We have made it clear that the financial aspect is very important for us.

"We do not want to go back to the days when you had to pay so much more money for engines."

Meanwhile, Kaltenborn played down rumours Sauber's salvation could be Volkswagen.

Her boss Peter Sauber recently confirmed he met at the Geneva motor show with VW chairman Martin Winterkorn.

"That's all there is, there's no more to say about it," Kaltenborn insisted. "We are not in further talks."

Read more: http://www.worldcarfans.com/11208064697 ... z22mGJOzru

[C29]

What is the technical leadership situation now at Sauber? Why James Key gone, I don't recall a replacement being announced for Technical Director. Just going by the race quotes published, Giampaolo Dall'Ara seems to be quoted in the palces where it used to be James Key, Willie Rampf, etc. His position apparently is 'Head of Track Engineering', so likely running the pitwall and general technical activities throughout a race weekend, but who is the actual manager of overall technical activities, development, etc? I believe Matt Morris is still the Chief Designer, so presumambly he runs the development team back in Hinwil, but I can't figure out who took over for Key. Perhaps that is their new structure, to have a more decentralized approach to technical activities? Surely there is someone to at least make sure the right people are talking to each other...

[naniSauber]

The technical set up is simple they have all the different department heads work together on the car. and if the team runs into issues then Peter Sauber and Kaltenborn weigh in. So you have alot of cross co operation which has formed a very balanced Car this years Sauber is very balanced..

[flyboy2160]

The technical set up is simple they have all the different department heads work together on the car. and if the team runs into issues then .... and Kaltenborn weigh in...

This is a perfect example of one of my pet peeves about modern technical companies headed by technical know-nothing accountants and lawyers: when the technical wizzards disagree about the path to take, how is a completely non-technical person supposed to give properly informed guidance? i've seen this ruin the working environment within u.s. aerospace companies. as a technically competent person you end up shaking your head and asking "why did i bother getting an advanced engineering degree when some know nothing accountant who doesn't even know calculus over rules a technical decision and violates the laws of physics to boot."

i predict that if kaltenborn fully takes over and tries to make technical decisions, sauber will go downhill.

[marcush.]

There are lots of examples that team principals starting to "engineer" the cars and technical m,atters it´s almost always for the bad to the team .
I´m pretty sure Ms Kaltenborn is similar to Peter Sauber in this matter -supplying the environment to enable the specialists to perform and do the do.
She is with Sauber long long time 10+years through the BMW years ...working on Concorde agreement etc...coming from Fritz Kaiser Group .
I have a lot of faith in her ability to lead this team and find her way of filling the sizeable pair of boots Mr.Sauber will leave when he finally quits.
Sauber is not in danger these days ..sure they will hit rougher terrain sooner or later but that´s like it is in F1 and elsewhere - just look at Williams GP