Like many things from Switzerland, it’s easy to take the presence of Sauber for granted. But it’s also hard to imagine Formula 1 without the solid Swiss outfit, once you realise how much of a fixture it has been in the sport.
Sauber first entered Formula 1 in 1993 after huge success in sportscars with Mercedes-Benz, and helped shepherd the German manufacturer back into grand prix racing in the mid-1990s.
After that, the team used Ford and Petronas-badged Ferrari power to good effect, introducing stars such as Kimi Raikkonen, Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa to Formula 1 with podiums and points-finishes aplenty. Although a buyout by BMW in 2005 offered the promise of title contention and a strong manufacturer-funded future, BMW’s shock credit crunch withdrawal at the end of 2009 forced Peter Sauber back to the helm to salvage the future security of his team and its employees.
2010 was a consolidation season with Kamui Kobayashi and Pedro de la Rosa supplying sponsor dollars as much as their undoubted talent. It looks like being a similar story in 2011, with Mexican Sergio Perez joining Kobayashi in the drivers’ seat. If Sauber can weather this storm against Formula 1’s new boys, Lotus and Virgin, the team can potentially re-start its rise to the front of the pack. But it’s likely to be a long journey.
Kamui KobayashiSergio Perez