Sauber have launched their 2011 F1 car, the C30, in Valencia.
The team’s drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez revealed the car, which is the first to be designed under new technical director James Key.
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Images © F1 Fanatic, Julien Leroy/Firstlap.be and Sauber ag. If you wish to use this image please contact F1 Fanatic to request permission
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
31st January 2011, 10:12
First thoughts: they could have done a lot more with that livery. I’ve seen GP2 teams with better graphics.
Faraz (@faraz)
31st January 2011, 10:14
Why are you always so critical??
TommyC
31st January 2011, 11:07
It’s hard not to be critical in this instance…
DaveBanchero (@mfdb)
31st January 2011, 13:56
I like it….Saubers have always been simple
Ben Everard
31st January 2011, 10:14
I concur, the livery has the quality of an airfix assembled by a blind man :-/
TommyB (@tommyb89)
31st January 2011, 11:47
Horrific livery. Sauber must have the world’s laziest designer.
With new sponsors I expected them to have a new livery. I can’t believe they’ve got exactly the same, what a let down.
sw6569 (@sw6569)
31st January 2011, 12:42
Not sure I agree with this. I think when designing a livery, the designers have two choices
1) continue with the same basic identity and put sponsors on top of that
2) design the livery around the sponsors
McLaren used to do 2) before they lost the Marlboro sponsorship and then realised that they had lost their own identity since it was so closely linked to that of Marlboro.
Since then, they have opted for 1), hence the silver cars of the last 12 years or so.
Sauber is clearly trying to create and maintain a brand identity with this livery. Their only problem, in my opinion, is that the identity they have chosen looks quite bland and boring.
Its a personal thing too, but I find that circular sponsors logos look like stickers rather than something integral to the design.
Ben Curly
31st January 2011, 14:08
Actually the silver livery came with West cigarette branding in 1997 and it stayed with McLaren up until mid 2005 (when tobacco advertising was banned). In 2006 McLaren adopted their current red and silver colour scheme.
sw6569 (@sw6569)
31st January 2011, 14:29
@ben curly
I thought that the silver colour scheme was brought about because of McLarens desire to have an identity – of course, it matched with West at the time, but since then they’ve kept the basic silver as their brand.
I could well be wrong though, I just seem to remember reading the above elsewhere.
Regardless though, I think my point still stands even if Mclaren is not the best example.
Mike
31st January 2011, 14:04
I think your forgetting that there are two teams (Ferrari and Mercedes) that have just picked a colour and dropped their cars into a bucket of it…
Ru_BD
31st January 2011, 15:11
“I think your forgetting that there are two teams (Ferrari and Mercedes) that have just picked a colour and dropped their cars into a bucket of it…”
ha ha ha …………….. i think u forget that Ferrari’s national colour is RED……
somewhere i read about color scheme…….that every car can choose their own color scheme according to their national color
Dave M
31st January 2011, 10:14
100% agreed – I was hoping for some great light blue and white Telmex-themed livery. Last year’s colours were pretty dull, and spraying new sponsor logos on there with an apparently scattergun approach hasn’t improved it.
Rob B (@rob-b)
31st January 2011, 10:18
I like the looks of the car and I’m glad it’s got a few more stickers tossed, apparently quite literally tossed, on the car!
I agree with the Airfix kit comment! I may have to have a nose on ebay later for one to play with.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
31st January 2011, 10:19
It’s a shame, because the livery could really work with a few minor touches: extend the dark grey across the length of the topside of the nose, and have a wide streak of red across the aribox and down over the rear engine cowling and rear wing.
jose
31st January 2011, 11:50
My mother worked for a company who sponsored williams in 1999 / 2000
There was a set price for a logo on each part of the car / suits.
They paid a large sum of money for the front wing end plates and pit wall headphones. So the car designers didn’t choose where the logos went, its advertising space with set prices.
The advertised not to premote the buisness name so much since the logo was tiny, more to impress clients by having access to a f1 team and drivers
She got went to gp’s around europe even at canada sitting by the haripin. She only stayed long enough to get me a tee shirt then leave before the loud engines started up. My dad and I were very jelous
Macca25
31st January 2011, 12:20
Hypocrites, everyone slamed Renault for designing they livery around the ING logos and now people want Sauber to do the same thing.
I think they have made the right decision in keeping they livery, they are trying to build a brand and if they change every year that will never happen.
For what it’s worth I think this is the best looking car we have seen in years, both in terms of shape and livery.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
31st January 2011, 18:47
Hypocritical? Maybe. But ING brought an atrocious livery, and Telmex has great colors. Some of the most beautiful and iconic liveries of the past were branded liveries, like the JPS and McLaren Marlboro liveries. Personally I’m very disappointed by this livery. It could have been something really great and different, like this mockup that Invoke posted in the livery thread on the forum: http://jamieatkinson.net/images/temp/sauber_telmex_wip.jpg
Bookgrub
1st February 2011, 0:15
That one looks great. The rfactorcentral Stephen Higgins posted below is too busy for my taste.
Stephen Higgins
31st January 2011, 19:14
Something like this ??
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/skins/screenshots/lge/17-Jul-08-2963-2_Telmex_CC_Render3b.jpg
ajokay (@)
31st January 2011, 10:16
It is a really poor showing considering all the new sponsors and money that’s been brought to the team. They never integrate them in, they just slap them on and it looks very messy.
They never hire a graphic artist to put these things together, it seems.
Still, though, I wish them the best of luck this year. Hope Kobayashi smashes his way to regular points with it.
Dave Blanc
31st January 2011, 10:18
Seen the autosport photo and i see what you mean re sponsor logos. It does just look like they’ve put them randomly all over the body work. I still think it looks the livery is quite striking – shame about the logos.
ajokay (@)
31st January 2011, 10:23
What I don’t understand furthermore is the fact that the livery design is just a rip-off of BMW’s. They just swapped the blue for a charcoal grey. The red and the grey work well, and could make for a great livery if they came up with something distinctive.
bosyber
31st January 2011, 11:33
I recall Peter Sauber saying early in the year that he actually quite liked the livery, so he was only going to tweak it.
Given that, I’m not so very disappointed, the red line around the nose is a tad better done than last year, and match fairly nicely with the red on the front wing. The Claro sponsorship at least fits reasonably well on the car. I find I actually like the very front of the car a great deal.
I agree that otherwise, I think they could have done a lot more with the colour combinations, but I do feel that at least they put the logo’s at spots where the fit in with the surrounding livery, as far as possible.
TommyB (@tommyb89)
31st January 2011, 11:51
Look at the front wing! They’ve actually just printed some logos out from Google images and stuck them over last years car.
Massive disappointment.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
31st January 2011, 18:51
That. ^
Hamish
31st January 2011, 10:17
For once, I agree with PM. Tad let down with the livery. Its not bad, just very bland.
Its like watching your kid come home 5th in a sports event. Not bad, but nothing to be excited over.
Adrian J (@adrian-j)
31st January 2011, 10:35
I disagree….it IS bad…
I think even HRT will have a better livery this year…
Tom L. (@tom-l)
31st January 2011, 12:52
Well HRT have hired a designer specially, they should end up with one of the best liveries!
BasCB (@bascb)
31st January 2011, 19:08
Possibly the best bit of their car, then!
US_Peter (@us_peter)
31st January 2011, 18:53
Agreed, especially considering the potential they had with the Telmex colors. I posted this above already, but just to add to everyone’s disappointment with the livery I’ll draw attention to what it could have been again: http://jamieatkinson.net/images/temp/sauber_telmex_wip.jpg
Oliver
31st January 2011, 10:30
I guess the need the white areas for any new sponsor they get.
The sidepods remind me of the ForceIndia of 2010.
Pinball
31st January 2011, 10:37
I agree Prisoner Monkeys. F1 is meant to be the pinnacle, how about some liveries that demonstrate this.
Solo (@solo)
31st January 2011, 10:55
Are they taking their livery seriously? It seems like they just threw a few stickers on there last year car.
If they don’t want to waste money on a designer they should ask the fans. They will get a few really good ones as the Team Lotus contest proved.
Btw where is the Vodka? I don’t think i see it.
Todfod (@todfod)
31st January 2011, 11:10
There is Cuervo tequila on the 2 air ducts
GeorgeTuk (@georgetuk)
31st January 2011, 11:18
While artistically not fantastic, look at how the logos stand out, surely a major consideration for the Sauber team who need the money.
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
31st January 2011, 11:27
Agreed, it’s to ugly to be fast…and I think they designed it around Peter Sauber’s nose.
Just imagine that his nostrils are the radiator ducts, throw a set of Pirellis on it and well, Bob’s your uncle!
I bet they saved a fortune in development costs that way. :)
bananarama
31st January 2011, 11:37
First thought: Mercedes W02 with some differences (sidepods) and a much uglier livery (if you call that a livery at all).
Becken
31st January 2011, 11:58
Launch video:
http://bit.ly/gn9Tt6
PT
31st January 2011, 19:52
I was expecting a bigger Telmex logo prmoninently on the engine cover or sidepods. But anyway I liked the C29’s shape and now the C30’s too. As in last year, I love those wheels – seem straight out of a muscle car!
But overally the livery could have been better designed, much better.
Faraz (@faraz)
31st January 2011, 10:12
Oh my goodness its beautiful I absolutely love it its amazing Kamui Kobayashi I wish him lots of success
Scribe (@scribe)
31st January 2011, 16:07
Woh there, lol first thoughts, compare that to the Ferrari, or when the McLaren or Redbull come out. Shows the differance between a top team and a lower one. Okay, bit simplistic in places, hope those arn’t the racing wings, packaging is quite bulky, probably won’t be challenging for podiums.
Less impressed by Sauber than I was last year, although they where a bit crap on track to start off with. Do like that they’ve found sponsers.
Adam Tate
31st January 2011, 10:13
First! Nice clean design, and it is wonderful to see so many sponsors on a Sauber again. I am glad they’ve come back from the brink.
Dave Blanc
31st January 2011, 10:14
Yep – i think the simple lines work.
topdowntoedown (@topdowntoedown)
31st January 2011, 11:19
And here’s ladies and gentlemen, is why posting “First” makes you look like a dolt.
In other news: Sauber appear to have unveiled a C29.
Are all this year’s cars going to look like 2010-spec ones? Apart from the Lotus, which didn’t really look like a 2010-spec one in 2010 anyway.?
f1-racing-mad (@)
31st January 2011, 10:14
At least it has colour than last year, it least it will hid the dirt. Best of luck for Sauber for this season!
Grace (@grace)
31st January 2011, 10:15
One more from Autosport.com
http://cdn.images.autosport.com/editorial/1296468137.jpg
OEL
31st January 2011, 10:20
The nose looks like that on the F10, just a bit higher.
bosyber
31st January 2011, 11:36
I was also thinking that, a cleaner and tilted upwards, version of the F10 nose; MP4-25 sidepod front, and RB5/6 like tail.
bosyber
31st January 2011, 11:37
Considering those three teams soundly beat them, that approach might well help them stay afloat in the midfield if they manage to integrate the bits well, mind.
Scribe (@scribe)
31st January 2011, 16:08
It’s traditional for lower teams to copy higher teams to stay in touch. Always has happened always will happen.
ed24f1 (@ed24f1)
31st January 2011, 10:15
They had a great chance to form a new identity with a different colour-scheme, so it’s a pity they left it almost the same…
Scribe (@scribe)
31st January 2011, 16:10
I think their design from last year was them trying to forge their own identity an there buisness plan is not based around the idea of a title sponser, so the acres of white is just for ease of additional sponsers.
Shame their identity is so boring huh?
Dave M
31st January 2011, 10:15
Is that a Force India that’s been resprayed?
sharan
31st January 2011, 10:42
yea it looks like last years FI without shark fin
Clay
31st January 2011, 11:37
What’s with that? I love the shark fin however none of the cars released so far – ferrari, Lotus, Suaber – seem to have it.
I reckon if it’s good enough for Mr Newey…
Ru_BD
31st January 2011, 15:18
Shark fin are banned this year so u will probably never seen a fin this year…….
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
31st January 2011, 10:16
Looks like we’re seeing the first major bodywork change for 2011 (Lotus doesn’t count since they were working off Mercedes’ ideas): at the rear end, the bodywork is much higher on the C30 than on the F150 or T128. It’s actually higher than the rear tyres. I’m guessing its purpose is to funnel the exhaust.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
31st January 2011, 10:17
The front wing – particularly where it connects to the nose – is also much more conventional than that industrial, angular thing they were running last year.
ajokay (@)
31st January 2011, 10:20
Ignoring the livery, it does look neat and tidy. Although whilst the FIA were banning f-ducts and double diffusers and the like, i wish they would have included a ban on those nasty looking bargeboards that sit at the front of the sidepods. They just look wrong.
codesurge
31st January 2011, 10:22
It’s a pity. The pointed high nose combined with those forward-raked wing mounts gave the C29 its aggressive shark-like appearance.
Dave Blanc
31st January 2011, 10:23
Rear wing looks interesting from this picture – quite a few intricate design features.
zecks
31st January 2011, 11:07
I think the Red bull did something very similar last year.
Also i heard a rumor that torro rosso will have the ferrari KERS, is that also the case for Sauber?
Ru_BD
31st January 2011, 15:22
yes Sauber will also use Ferrari KERS sysetm…
US_Peter (@us_peter)
31st January 2011, 19:15
I think most teams running KERS will be running that of their respective engine suppliers, Williams being the obvious exception, and since Virgin and HRT won’t run it it’s doubtful Cosworth will have any reason to develop a KERS anytime soon.
bosyber
31st January 2011, 11:40
Yes, it seems to be extremely narrow and high, probably with a narrow air-outlet. They also seem to be having pull-rod, or did I miss where the push rod connects between the upper A-arms?
bosyber
31st January 2011, 11:54
Oh, just read bit of autosport article, they are using a Ferrari gearbox, so have a very similar push-rod suspension with the push-rod connecting in a very forward position, that’s why I didn’t see it clearly in most of the pictures taken from the front – on the side pictures it is very clear.
BasCB (@bascb)
31st January 2011, 19:12
They do have a very tight back end (both Ferrari and Sauber) that looks good.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
31st January 2011, 19:17
Can’t argue with that. ;-)
melkurion (@melkurion)
31st January 2011, 11:42
YEs, I noticed that too, with no double diffuser, maybe it’s not so important to have the air cascading down from the airbox…? But it’s deffinetly a new designfeature
codesurge
31st January 2011, 10:16
Can’t say I’m impressed by that livery. It manages to look both bland and overly busy at the same time. Just doesn’t gel well IMHO.
Proesterchen
31st January 2011, 10:16
This thing has the visual qualities of a late-80ies backmarker. Ugh.
Maciek
31st January 2011, 10:16
It’s starting to look like relatively flat, raised noses and very tight backsides are this year’s preferred solutions. Personally, I like the look it gives the cars, especially from the side – so far the Ferrari, Lotus and Sauber all look really nice to my eyes. Clean lines.
Ben
31st January 2011, 11:41
yeah but next year’s solutions will just be whatever Newey comes up with for this year.
electrolite (@electrolite)
31st January 2011, 14:15
There is the running theme of having a dip at the cockpit-end of the nose too. Last year’s cars tended to have the dip at the front.
BBT
31st January 2011, 10:17
first impressions…. I like it
geo132 (@geo132)
31st January 2011, 10:18
Good thing they got more sponsors, but color combination on the front doesn’t look so nice. White,blue and red don’t match.
Wishing them good luck anyways!
I noticed a slightly high nose cone, weird air inlet too. Don’t know if these are like same from last year.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
31st January 2011, 19:21
I think the US, UK, Australia, NZ, France, Holland, Russia, Norway, and a slew of other countries would disagree with you on that!
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
31st January 2011, 10:20
The nose looks quite odd from the angle Autosport present. It starts out wide at the front, and then narrows when the V-channel starts, and then wides out again running up to the cockpit.
Grace (@grace)
31st January 2011, 10:24
It doesn’t help that they have got the pinstipe right along the upper edge of the nose. That over emphisises a bit too.
Poerhaps other pictures emerging will show it better.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
31st January 2011, 10:22
More photos:
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6876/saubero.jpg
http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/1189/sauber2.jpg
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6766/sauber3.jpg
Grace (@grace)
31st January 2011, 10:25
http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/233672339.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1296470391&Signature=wtaxYU4bcroZSaBpl4olnPKrQ6M%3D
Hamish
31st January 2011, 10:36
Bloody hell mate. 6 posts in 10 minutes on the same thread……calm down.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
31st January 2011, 10:44
I have a very stream-of-consciousness style. I post things as I think of them. Also, the fire control panel for my block is broken, so all I’m getting is this “EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!” noise that is very unpleasant, so it helps to have something like this to focus on.
Maciek
31st January 2011, 10:44
Well, I don’t see any rules about limits on posting, so the guy is allowed to be as annoying as he pleases.
Hamish
31st January 2011, 11:12
Thank you.
charlie
31st January 2011, 17:25
Shutup Hamish.
Hamish
31st January 2011, 20:56
Thanks Charlie
Nic Morley (@robocat)
31st January 2011, 10:23
Quite let down by there livery. Doesn’t seem to have any imagination at all. Just logos slapped onto the car. It’s more dissapoiting as I thought they would have gone for a blusih telmex livery, but they havn’t, it had alot of potential to be much nicer. Looks bland and messy, could have been done much better.
Cyclops_PL (@cyclops_pl)
31st January 2011, 10:25
Oh I REALLY like it. And I’m happy to see quite a lot new sponsors, which hopefully brought some financial stability and opened new perspectives for the team.
Aetost (@aetost)
31st January 2011, 10:30
The only new sponsors are TelMex and its subsdiaries (Claro & Telcel) and Cuervo
Cyclops_PL (@cyclops_pl)
31st January 2011, 10:46
Comparing to what they started with last year, you must admit that’s significant.
Aetost (@aetost)
31st January 2011, 11:06
True… Well, anything would be an improvement from last year.
Still, I wish them the best, as they are one of the few true racing squads left in F1.
Gridlock
31st January 2011, 14:48
And another Mexican brewery if JA’s info is good, presumably Corona or Sol or something.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
31st January 2011, 19:36
Fingers crossed for Modelo.
nemo
31st January 2011, 10:26
oh no..
i was really looking forward to this but it pretty much looks the same as last year :(
Faraz (@faraz)
31st January 2011, 10:27
Has anyone else noticed the Mclaren style side-pods.
Maciek
31st January 2011, 10:51
So far I find both the Ferrari and Sauber owe a good deal to last year’s McLaren, which is strange given that they did not have the fastest car – so what gives?
Stephen Jones (@aus_steve)
31st January 2011, 10:37
i actually like the livery.. looks fast
plus those wheel rims/hubs.. they’re so beautiful!
Adrian J (@adrian-j)
31st January 2011, 10:37
Quite telling that the logo on the sidepods (ie one of the prime advertising spaces on the car) is a Sauber logo…
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
31st January 2011, 10:37
Looking a comparison between the C29 and C30, the airbox is very different. This one is held up by four struts and joins with the main body much further back than on the C29.
bosyber
31st January 2011, 11:44
They really undercut that airbox for the maximum amount, up to the point where it has to bend down to connect to the engine. It looks a bit odd with the squat shape of the airbox itself, but interesting.
Wificats
31st January 2011, 13:21
I’m thinking that perhaps they’ve had to move the engine a bit further back (perhaps to accommodate the KERS gubbins?) which might explain the strange shape of the car, and the engine air intake.
bosyber
31st January 2011, 13:41
Hm, but the high bit at the back really is only a very narrow slit to let out air – take a look at the launch gallery on Formula1.com: pic 18/26 from http://www.formula1.com/gallery/launches/2011/558.html for example)
Sauber hide the diffuser in the on-track photos, but that area down low between the wheels really does look about as clean and empty as on the F150 – the beam wing seems to be well clear of the crash structure. even the two cables holding the floor/diffuser are there!
I also notice on that same picture, that there does seem to be some kind of hinge in the middle of the rear wing, but nothing allowing movement on the end plates; There are however two light grey bands seperating the upper flap in three – I wonder if maybe only the middle part of that lowers – that would seem to create some issues around the edges there, but who knows.
bosyber
31st January 2011, 13:45
hm, forget about that last bit, just inside the endplates you can see that the flap is flanked by to narrow ridges on the side plate, it could well be that it is only fixed at the top there and actually pivots on the two grey bands halfway the width of the flap.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
31st January 2011, 19:39
That seems to be a trend so far, which I’m not surprised by since the RB6 was set up that way (2 struts, not 4).
Meander
31st January 2011, 10:38
The weather in Valencia isn’t helping the photos, because the livery looks dull the pics with studio lighting though look terrific! Could’ve gone for a bit more base color but the car looks mean. I like it!
Meander
31st January 2011, 10:41
Seems to have lost a period and an enter there..
Anyway, also the boxy lines of last years car have evolved into curves which makes it look aero dynamically much more matured.
Aetost (@aetost)
31st January 2011, 10:38
Is the front suspension mounted on a double keel, like the decade old Saubers? I thought that this design format has been abandoned for nearly a decade…
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
31st January 2011, 10:41
From the side-on angle, the nose reminds me of the Virgin. It’s not as needle-nosed as the VR-01, but it certainly extends well out beyond the front wing.
tee geba
31st January 2011, 10:41
gaaahH!
I thought with Jose on board there would be something cool going on but it just looks like a mashed transformer
i hyped myself up so much for this
Grace (@grace)
31st January 2011, 10:46
2010-2011 comparison picture
http://i53.tinypic.com/2vlqvb7.jpg
Hamish
31st January 2011, 11:16
Thanks Grace
bosyber
31st January 2011, 11:49
Wow, thanks Grace. From that picture, the sidepods look considerably narrower at the back. And the nose seems to not have changed enormously, except it has a form of the Red Bull ridges on top, and the front wing pylons are simpler.
I think the front and rear wing are the more or less the same, so those are probably, as is the case with most teams, a 2010 version.
McG (@mcg)
31st January 2011, 10:46
It’s telling as to the amount of sponsorship cash the team are receiving, where and how they place the logos. And as someone said before, a Sauber logo on the sidepods is telling also.
Maybe with a bit more cash from TM they could have had a lovely blue livery, with smaller logos for the other TM related companies.
Leftie (@leftie)
31st January 2011, 10:51
Looks like a triple-section front wing is a 2011 must have
Icthyes (@icthyes)
31st January 2011, 10:55
Incredibly disappointed. The car looks nice but the livery is so BORING! Are you sure this is really that Sauber team that we all know and love?
US_Peter (@us_peter)
31st January 2011, 19:46
Not only boring, but sloppy. Really just looks like they slapped some stickers wherever… My friend’s amateur rally car has a more cohesive and planned out livery than this thing.
Racefan
31st January 2011, 10:57
I don’t care about the car as long as Koba is driving it!
explosiveface (@explosiveface)
31st January 2011, 10:58
The circle Claro logo looks horrible, like it’s from a webpage from 1999 (gel buttons, ugh).
Other than than it looks okay at best. Sauber really do need to find their own design, though.
Christopher Vissing
31st January 2011, 11:01
funny to see a sauber like that with SPONSORS other than burger king ;) haha
It’s a little ugly i think.. Could’ve done a better job, but what the h…
Hamish
31st January 2011, 11:19
Yea thats true. I don’t know what was more embarrassing – the lack of sponsors or Pedro and Kamui having an instore appearance at a Burger King in Valencia.
Heres hoping they take the same approach this year, but with Jose Cuervo.
Prof Kirk (@prof-kirk)
31st January 2011, 11:22
Here is a comparison shot:
http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww70/kirbyjay/SauberComparison.png
rob
31st January 2011, 11:38
hum,yes the tyres look different…
Catalina (@catalina)
31st January 2011, 11:24
better than last year for sure
Meander
31st January 2011, 11:28
Seeing the side by side comparison to last year’s car I noticed a small Japanese sponsor on last year’s rear wing, which is gone now. This has me wondering: how come there is not a lot more Japanese going on on this car? I now the Japanese like F1 and of course they have a lot of huge companies, many of which have shown an interest in F1 before, or even had major sponsor deals with teams. Are they not yet impressed by Kobayashi? Does anybody know if there is a reason behind this?
Meander
31st January 2011, 11:29
*know
Solo (@solo)
31st January 2011, 12:03
It’s based on two reasons i believe.
First Kobayashi’s father is just a small sushi restaurant owner. That means that his family is not some big rich family with connections to big Japanese businessmen. Most drivers also have families with connections and that’s why they get big sponsorships from local businessmen.
Second Japan was currently under a disappointment environment from F1 with their car companies leaving and all that, not to mention their drivers never doing anything great. Now it seems is harder for them to get convinced that this guy really is great.
Lets hope that this car really is a very good car giving Kobayashi some chances to impress again. An odd win should do the trick but that’s gonna be a hard one considering how much cars are expected to be faster than the Sauber. Even if only Mclaren,Ferrari,Red Bull and Mercedes are faster than them, that’s still 10 cars that have to do very bad or break for that odd win to occur.
kaddison (@kaddison)
31st January 2011, 11:29
In my opinion, even with little sponsorship, more effort can be made to make the car more distinguishable, if nothing else but get some spectator interest in the car. I personally was hoping for something a little more radical than what it has turned out to be… I can understand that last year was rushed and there was very little sponsorship, but there could have been a bit more effort this year.
In my opinion….
Glorstensen (@glorstensen)
31st January 2011, 11:33
There are interviews streaming live on LRGP site!
Dev
31st January 2011, 11:35
the car design and livery suggest running on tight budget.
rob
31st January 2011, 11:36
it looks better under wraps
can’t believe they paid somebody to design that livery!
Oliver
31st January 2011, 14:31
This is way much better than the livery Briatore designed for Renault ING.
BBT
31st January 2011, 11:45
Hi Keith,
Could you put a key feature matrix together for the 2011 cars? Makes it easier to compare them.
You know the kind of comparison table of features you often between software suites with a tick or little dot in the intersection of the feature and team.
I’m thinking….
KERS,
Integrated blown diffuser,
Adjustable rear wing
Push rod suspension
Pull rod suspension
Wheelbase
Engine (manufacture, not yes or no) lol
etc.
Prof Kirk (@prof-kirk)
31st January 2011, 11:53
+1
melkurion (@melkurion)
31st January 2011, 11:46
I was expecting a lot moe/bigger TelMex advertisement…
Solo (@solo)
31st January 2011, 12:10
Yes from what i see no sponsor managed to have his name written in big letters on the sidepots. That can only mean that none of all those sponsors offers a big multimillion deal.
It seems Sauber should still be looking for that big sponsor name.
Kind of disappointing because i thought they would have been more free to spend money but now am not so sure.
Rob Wilson
31st January 2011, 12:11
Best looking car of 2011 so far by a long way in my oppinion.
Dafffid (@dafffid)
31st January 2011, 12:15
Looks like a cheap fag packet…
Kevin
31st January 2011, 12:16
I guess the livery isn’t that much of a concern to Sauber. All that matters is that Kobayashi will be behind the wheel pulling off crazy but acceptable overtaking moves on the others. Moves that would be inspired by energy drinks and tequila mixed together. :P
verstappen
31st January 2011, 12:25
I still like the wheels!
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
31st January 2011, 13:23
I think it looks good. I was expecting to see more of the Telmex blue however.
chris sz (@chris-sz)
31st January 2011, 13:30
love those pics, i can even read the barcode on the front wing ;)
skodarap (@skodarap)
31st January 2011, 13:33
it’s a nice design, nothing special though but me likes it.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
31st January 2011, 13:37
They could have work harder on the livery I do hope they also spend sometime with the car.
electrolite (@electrolite)
31st January 2011, 13:48
Wow what a beast! The livery isn’t what a lot of people expected but I think it looks pretty raw no nonsense to me, ready to race.
Joseph
31st January 2011, 14:41
Well….least better than previous an awkward name and no livery or primary sponsorship @ all.
Gridlock
31st January 2011, 14:57
Is there confirmation one way or another that this is the final livery?
And I cant wait to see what really lives under alll these high noses and rear ends… I suspect a lot of teams are sitting on some very interesting aero ideas for Bahrain around huuuuuge front wings (which only deflect per FIA spec..) and cunning methods of playing with the airflow out the back. All that data from 2 years of DDDs and EBDs has to have been put to best use under 2011 regs which to my mind means thinking around the edges of what the MRW gives you and trying to join this to whatever you can get away with out the back.
VXR
31st January 2011, 17:13
Sauber are probably thinking that it looks much better with the decals on, rather than not having anything to put on it at all.
Difficult to know how “special” a design it is until it hits the tracks during testing.
If ‘looks’ are anything to go by, then I would have to say that the Ferrari was the most yawn enducing car so far.
charlie
31st January 2011, 17:23
wow so much hate for Lotus-Renault and here we have a genuinely ugly car and so many of you praise sauber… whats up with that?
Younger Hamilton
31st January 2011, 18:36
Car looks pretty good really like the design of it but does it have the drivers(Most definetely Kamui but Sergio has to impress) and sufficient Aerodynamic Performance to build on from Last year,we’ll see in Pre Season Testing and in Bahrain
Alexi (@)
31st January 2011, 21:48
What an horrible car. I don’t mind the dark gray, white and red colors, but it feels like they let a little kid stamp the sponsorers’ logos around and were done with it.
Kris H.
1st February 2011, 6:04
No retro-livery, no fancy launch, no 3 test drivers, no 3 car companies plastered on the car. Just a good sensible design and two drivers ready to race like heck. Typical Sauber.
Rod
3rd February 2011, 17:38
Interstingt the Claro sponsorship, it’s a brazilian telecom company which operates only in Brazil and there’s no brazilian pilot driving for Sauber this year.
This not that common among brazilian companies regarding sponsoring sports.