Sauber have become the latest team to reveal their car for the new Formula 1 season, the C31 launched this morning on the track at Jerez.
Swiss team eye "significantly better" Constructors' Championship spot
Sauber have become the latest team to reveal their car for the new Formula 1 season with the C31 launched this morning at Jerez.
The Hinwil-based squad's challenger for the new season features the now standard stepped nose and its overall appearance is arguably 'boxier' than some of the other cars revealed so far - particularly the McLaren and Lotus - although the team describe the car unveiled today as a "basic roll-out version".
Team owner Peter Sauber says the new design is evolutionary in some areas but "boasts a large number of promising new developments", which include a switch to the increasingly popular pull-rod rear suspension arrangement and more tightly packaged rear bodywork along with all-new gearbox.
After ultimately slipping down the midfield order last season following a strong start to 2011 when they were ahead of Force India, team owner Peter Sauber wants a more consistent performance from the C31 and an overall improvement on seventh place in the Constructors' Championship.
"We're aiming to start the new season as strongly as we did in 2011, but then also to maintain this level of performance throughout the year," he said.
"Our goal is to finish regularly in the points so as to put ourselves in a significantly better position in the World Championship."
Chief designer Matt Morris explained why the team had chosen to adopt a part-evolutionary, part-revolutionary, approach: "The C31 is revolutionary where we had fresh ideas, particularly at the rear of the car, and it is an evolution where we knew we could carry over certain approaches.
"We had to improve on the weaknesses we identified on the C30, but at the same time we wanted to maintain its strengths."
Sauber enter the pre-season programme without a recognised technical director in place after James Key last Friday announced his departure to take up a new job with an unspecified UK-based rival.
They confirmed, however, that the design and development of the C31 would now be jointly led by the heads of department for the team's aerodynamic, design, performance and operations divisions.
The team though does retain stability on the driver front, with the youthful duo of Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez retained for 2012.
Sauber believes both his young chargers are maturing as they enter their third and second F1 campaigns respectively.
"We are looking forward to another season working with our young and talented drivers," the Swiss veteran added.
"Kamui will be competing in his third full season in F1. Last year we asked him to take on leadership responsibilities within the team and he has grown into the role.
"With his rookie season behind him Sergio is now approaching his second season, which is often the most difficult in a driver's Formula 1 career. Both drivers have huge potential and will work with the same race engineers as in 2011 to continue developing that promise. "
The popular Kobayashi, one of the grid's most aggressive racers, agrees with his team principal that a season that features regular points finishes from start to finish would represent tangible progress.
"2012 will be not only my third season in Formula 1, but also my third with the same team," the Japanese said.
"We've been through a lot together and can benefit from our shared experiences. In my first year with the team we had a bad start but a good second half to the season. The second year was the exact reverse. In our third year together we should be a reliable bet to finish consistently in the points. I'm really looking forward to the new season with the Sauber F1 Team."
The C31, as with all the new cars launched to date or being unveiled later today, will make its official track bow on the opening morning of pre-season testing on Tuesday at the Spanish circuit.
