Formula 1: The Sauber for the anniversary
FORMULA 1 The Sauber F1 Team starts its 25th Formula 1 season with a completely new race car. The C36 complies with the new technical regulations with wider tires and larger wings. Thanks to what is now a solid financial base, the new car from Hinwil can be steadily developed further. In a week's time, Formula 1 testing will begin in Barcelona with a view to the [...]
In a week's time, Formula 1 testing will begin in Barcelona in preparation for the start of the world championship in Australia on March 26. A new era begins for all ten teams. For the Sauber F1 Team, 2017 is a special year that should make up for several years of lean times: It is the 25th season in Formula 1 for the team founded by Peter Sauber. Only Ferrari, McLaren and Williams have been around permanently longer.
With its new owner Longbow Finances S.A., the Sauber Group can stabilize itself as a whole and thus also create a solid basis for a competitive and successful future in Formula 1. CEO and team boss Monisha Kaltenborn certainly sees exciting times ahead for the team: "Together with Longbow, great opportunities are opening up for us to become more competitive again and to return to our old successes. With an overall new approach, we want to position ourselves better against our competitors. We have already taken the first steps in this regard - with the creation of a stable foundation on which we can build for the future."
Regardless of the fact that Formula 1 and its teams are once again entering uncharted territory with the new technical regulations from 2017, the Sauber F1 Team has clearly set its expectations. "We need to improve significantly," says Monisha Kaltenborn. "With the new car, we have a solid basis and, in addition, equally the resources to be able to further develop the Sauber C36-Ferrari over the course of the season. That will be important to be able to establish ourselves in the midfield."
More downforce and aerodynamic stability
The most striking changes that characterize the Sauber C36-Ferrari as a result of the new regulations are summarized by new Technical Director Jörg Zander as follows: "The cars will be wider again, from 1.80 to 2 meters, there are tires wider by 25%, the front and rear wings will also be wider, and in addition the diffuser will be enlarged. Overall, that means more downforce, more grip and therefore faster lap times."
In the concept for the new car, for example, the aim was to reduce the drag coefficient to a minimum due to the wider tires and to achieve significant weight savings, for example through the new rollover structure. In certain areas, lightweight construction has been taken to the limit. The aero concept includes optimization of the front and rear wings and underbody. The radiator, sidepods and bodywork have been made as narrow as possible. Significant progress has also been made in terms of increased downforce. This also involves ensuring that the downforce generated by driving remains stable in different sections of the track. Jörg Zander specifies the changed development procedure: "We're looking more in the direction of aerodynamic stability, as opposed to maximizing downforce."
Designed from scratch
"Basically, big teams have an advantage even with serious changes to the regulations," says Jörg Zander, "but when cards are reshuffled, opportunities always arise." The Sauber C36 Ferrari is wider, lower and, with its wide Pirelli tires, looks more massive than last year's C35 model. The width of the front tires increased from 245 to 305 mm, and that of the rear tires from 325 to 405 mm.
What has remained the same compared to 2016: The wider tires will also be able to decide races when it comes to functioning and harmonizing with the vehicle set-up as well as tire wear. "With the tires, you could conceal deficits and also make any concepts work better," says Jörg Zander.
No part could be taken over from the C35 predecessor. The Ferrari powertrain, configured in Abu Dhabi 2016, is also used for the first time in the C36. This season, only four of the known six units of a powertrain can now be changed without penalty. In the coming years, the number will be further reduced, which is why the manufacturers will focus more on the durability than the top speed of their power units.
Jörg Zander sees the 2016 engine as "a proven system, with greater stability at the start. In addition, he says, this was an advantage in terms of design resources when planning the development of the C36. "We were able to get started early and define the engine environment because we knew the entire powertrain and the associated cooling requirements."
