The Sauber team unveiled their 1997 challenger today. The following is the press release from the Sauber team: Team Red Bull-Sauber-Petronas is entering the 1997 Formula One season with a new élan, reasonable optimism and a healthy portion of ambition. The main reason for this new enthusiasm within the race team from Hinwil/Switzerland is the new engine which will give the Red Bull-Sauber-Petronas C16 the necessary boost on the race tracks around the globe.

The Sauber-Petronas C16: photo by Sauber-Petronas

"For us the agreement concluded in November 1996 concerning technical co-operation with Ferrari is the most important step since our Formula One debut in 1993" Team Principal Peter Sauber says." With the Sauber-Petronas V10 we now have a competitive engine allowing us to reduce the gap to the top teams. It is equally important that we are now in the position to acquire our own engine competence."

For Team Red Bull-Sauber-Petronas, however, the late conclusion of the agreement signifies a dramatic race against time in order to complete the new car in time for the season's opening on March 9. "In view of our original schedule we were suddenly faced with a delay of about two months," says Chief Designer Leo Ress remembering the daunting situation.

"Although we had finalised the design of our new chassis as far as possible, we did not know what the car would finally look like behind the driver's seat. We managed to complete the final drawings as late as January. During this phase, whether it was in design or construction of the cars, the whole team achieved their best, and also our technical partners and suppliers deserve unconditional praise."

Nevertheless a Formula One team such as Red Bull-Sauber-Petronas cannot perform wonders. Compared to the competitors the new C16 has been exposed to the race track at a very late date. "Even if all components should immediately work as desired, the late completion of our new car is a great handicap," Team Director Max Welti emphasises. "In any case a thorough preparation for the season includes as many test miles as possible. It would be a small wonder if the missing test sessions weren't a disadvantage for the first races of the season, given that the first three races are taking place overseas and the respective schedule is very tight."

"That is why we are very happy that with Johnny Herbert who is familiar with the team and with Nicola Larini who is extremely practised in the use of our new engine, we have two such experienced drivers in the team. This should help us when faced with eventual problems to find viable solutions in the fastest possible way."

Realism rather than euphoria, therefore, determines the goals Team Principal Peter Sauber has set his team for the 1997 Formula One season. "In our fifth year in the supreme class of motorsport we want to close the gap to the established top teams. The past years have shown that this may be more difficult than it sounds in the first place."

Official Sauber Press release