Sauber team principal Frederic Vasseur says their new alliance with Alfa Romeo will make them a more attractive team.
“Alfa Romeo is not just a matter of sponsorship, it’s much more a partnership,” he said. “It means that we will be much more attractive for everybody, for the media, for the sponsors also.”
“But it’s also and mainly a huge motivation for the team to have an iconic brand with us.”
Alfa Romeo’s branding features prominently on the engine cover of the new Sauber C37 which was revealed by the team yesterday. Vasseur described the team’s livery as “a good mix between the white, which is part of the DNA of Sauber over the last 20 years, and at the other end the iconic Alfa Romeo red.”
The new support from Alfa Romeo comes as the team return to using current-specification Ferrari engines. However Vasseur acknowledged they need to made other gains to make progress in 2018.
“The most obvious development was the get the engine of the [current] year, that’s the first point,” he said. “But we know perfectly that we have to work on every single area and every single department of the company.”
“We are mainly focused on the aero because it’s a key topic for the performance but we are recruiting in every single department of the company.”
The new car ran on-track for the first time at the Circuit de Catalunya today with Marcus Ericsson at the wheel:
First glimpse of the #C37 on track👍 So much to do in so little time 😅 #filmingday #f1 pic.twitter.com/s96codovYP
— Sauber F1 Team (@SauberF1Team) February 21, 2018
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Damon (@damon)
21st February 2018, 15:46
Oh my, the rear view looks glorious. I wish the current generation of cars looked that good from any angle though… *sigh*
PT (@pt)
22nd February 2018, 5:12
I’d say it’s the best looking rear view thanks not only to the wider track and massive tyres but also the evocative Alfa Romeo font. Reminds me of the late 70s Alfa Romeo-powered Brabhams:
PT (@pt)
22nd February 2018, 5:13
http://www.bild.de/sport/motorsport/formel-1-teams/fg-35088700.bild.html
Chaitanya
21st February 2018, 16:33
It just signifies to fans that Sauber is a sattelite or B team which maybe good depending on talent that placed behind the wheel of that car.
Nathan Builder (@nathanbuilder)
21st February 2018, 21:00
Exactly! It also probably means Alfa Romeo is paying less than they should have to become a title sponsor.
TEDBELL
21st February 2018, 19:18
Wish them well
But starting your season with the 2017 engine that wasnt up to snuff with the superior Mercedes then, does little to stir my feelings about their chances in 2018.
So many implausible events would have to happen for Sauber to win let alone be considered Championship material.
Call them mobile chicanes
yawen
21st February 2018, 20:16
They’re not using the 2017 engine. Don’t you think it would be counterproductive to the new Alfa Romeo sponsorship deal to restrict Sauber to a previous generation engine?
Nathan Builder (@nathanbuilder)
21st February 2018, 21:01
If there’s not enough 2018 engines, you bet they’ll be using the 2017 engine.
Iosif (@afonic)
21st February 2018, 21:48
And why shouldn’t there be enough 2018 engines? Besides, it’s not exactly plug and play, you have to change the car to change the engine generation.
Sartori
22nd February 2018, 8:55
Exactly the whole car design is based around the 2018 Ferrari engine. No idea where people are getting the idea 2017 engines are ever likely to be used, never been mentioned anywhere else.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
21st February 2018, 20:23
I’ll soon get used to those white halos, but it looked like there was nobody driving that!
Renee
21st February 2018, 20:47
I think the rear view of the new Sauber in Alfa colors might just be the prettiest, most breath taking photo of an F1 car I’ve ever seen. If it were as good on track as it looks from the rear it would be the 2018 championship winner.
And I’ve never even given Sauber a second thought during my 7 years of being a fan.