Boss Monisha Kaltenborn dismissed two pressing questions about Sauber's health and future in the simplest possible way. When asked by veteran journalist Roger Benoit if she had thought about quitting amid the Swiss team's high profile financial troubles, she answered emphatically: "No." And she gave the same negative answer when asked if Sauber came close to selling up and pulling out of F1 after the tumultuous 2013 season, when unpaid bills were piling up.
The Hinwil based team 'launched' its 2014 car, the C33, on Sunday, with a couple of side-view photos of the grey single seater posted on the official website. Benoit, the well-connected correspondent for Blick newspaper, said a notable absentee is a title sponsor. "With Telmex, Claro, NEC, Jose Cuervo, Oerlikon, Emil Frey and Certina, we have many important partners," Kaltenborn insisted. "We are in talks with other potential partners," she added.
The absence of a front-view photo of the V6-powered C33 makes it difficult to compare with the other revealed 2014 cars, including the 'anteater'-nosed Williams, the 'nostriled' McLaren, the 'vacuum-cleaner' Ferrari and the 'tweezer'-nosed Lotus. The Lotus has caused the bigger stir so far, as the two tuning fork-like nose tips are actually different lengths, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.
"In fact, the asymmetry is just a trick for the regulations," correspondent Michael Schmidt said. "Tips of equal length would make the E22 illegal," he added, explaining that the entire crash structure is probably inside the right-hand tip. "Whether the FIA is happy with this solution is another matter," said Schmidt.
Still to be seen are the new Red Bull and Mercedes cars, but Nico Rosberg has at least driven the latter, when he ran the silver W05 at Silverstone last week. "It looks quick," said the German, "but I don't know if it is quick yet!"
The first winter test kicks off on Tuesday, when rain is forecast at Jerez in Spain. (GMM)
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