Posts tagged Sauber
BMW Sauber C29 released
Feb 1st
Pedro de la Rosa and Kamui Kobayashi were on hand to pull back the covers on this years BMW Sauber C29. The word BMW is still in the teams name, however BMW are just getting free advertising since they no longer support the team, the model disgnation has been dropped and the car is now powered by a Ferrari engine and even uses other Ferrari components such as it’s gearbox.
This years Sauer, like other 2010 cars, has a longer wheel base and is also wider then last years car to accomodate that larger fuel tanks. It also sports a new Dorsal or ‘shark fin’ similar to that seen on the 2010 McLaren.
Technical director Willy Rampf described some of the changes to the car:
“The increased length of the fuel tank means the car has grown longer overall. And because they are slimmer, the front tyres will be more heavily worked, requiring weight to be shifted further towards the rear of the car.
An eye-catching feature of the C29 is its highly intricate raised nose. Also very distinctive is an extremely long undercut at the transition from chassis into underbody. These and other aerodynamic measures also help to ensure optimum airflow to the double diffuser. Further changes were required to integrate the Ferrari engine and, in particular, the Ferrari gearbox.”.
Technical specs of the c29 are as follows:
Chassis: Carbon-fibre monocoque
Suspension: Upper and lower wishbones (front and rear), inboard springs and dampers, actuated by pushrods (Sachs Race Engineering)
Brakes: Six-piston brake callipers (Brembo), carbon pads and discs (Brembo, Carbon Industries)
Transmission: Ferrari Seven-speed quick shift gearbox, carbon, longitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch
Chassis electronics: MES
Steering wheel: BMW Sauber F1 Team
Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza
Wheels: OZ
Length: 4,940 mm
Width: 1,800 mm
Height: 1,000 mm
Track width, front: 1,495 mm
Track width, rear: 1,410 mm
Weight: 620 kg (including driver, tank empty)
Sauber confirm Pedro de la Rosa
Jan 19th
Sauber today confirmed that former McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa has signed with the team for the 2010 season.
The 38-year-old Spaniard will partner former Toyota F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi this season who was confirmed as the Swiss teams first driver in December last year.
Team Principal Peter Sauber stated “Pedro has spent many years working for a top team at the highest technical level” referring to Pedro’s long standing relationship with McLaren. He wen on to say: “We as a team stand to gain from his experience, and the same goes for young Kamui. The combination of a seasoned racer and an up-and-coming young driver has repeatedly proved a very fruitful one. I don’t expect either of them to disappoint in 2010.”
Pedro de la Rosa has more then 70 Grand Prix starts under his belt and no doubt he is very keen to get back on the grid. Kumui Kobayashi impressed fans last year with a brave and well executed pass on Jensen Button at the Yass Marina round in Abu Dhabi. Kobayashi’s pass was voted one of the best passing moves of 2009 in the polls by many Formula1 fans.
With their driver line up now confirmed, the next official commitment from Sauber will be when they unveil their new car at the Valencia circuit on Sunday 31 January. The launch of their new car will take place the day before the start of official testing in spain from 1-3 February 2010.
Sauber and Merc’ Launch cars prior to Feb tests
Jan 7th
According to local German press, (Bild) Mercedes Petronas GP plan on launching their 2010 car on the 25th January, ahead of the first offical testing in Valencia on the 1st February. The launch is rumoured to take place at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart. The car’s chasis is rumoured to be RB1, named after team principal, Ross Brawn.
Meanwhile Sauber have confirmed that on Sunday 31st January they will be launching their new team and 2010 car at Valencia, just one day prior to the start of official testing. Kamui Kobayashi has already been confirmed as one of thier drivers after he was left without a seat for 2010 due to Toyota pulling out of Formula1 after the end of the 2009 season.
Team Principal Peter Sauber has already said that due to BMW pulling out of the sport, his cars will now be powered by Ferrari engines.
The official February test dates are as follows:
February 1st – 3rd – Valencia
February 10th – 13th – Jerez
February 17th – 20th – Jerez
February 25th – 28th – Circuit de Catalunya
UBS Chinese Grand Prix