Swiss Formula One team Sauber Motorsport recently released the first official photos of the team's 2017 car. Dubbed simply as the Sauber C36, the car features blue and gold livery which is in connection to the team's 25th anniversary in the F1 scene.
Based on the photos, it appears that the Sauber C36 features swept front and rear wings which were made mandatory under the new F1 aerodynamic regulations. The C36 also features larger barge boards and a new fin on the engine cover. Just above the driver's head is a new split airbox, a new addition which was not introduced in previous cars.
The Sauber C36's design was initiated by Mark Smith, who worked as the team's technical director but left Sauber in March 2016. The development of the new design was later adopted by Smith's replacement, Jorg Zander.
At the heart of the C36 is a year-old Ferrari engine. This particular choice did not sit well with some motoring analysts as they claim that this will put the car in a rather disadvantageous position, especially as 2017 power unit evolves throughout the season.
According to Independent, the new Sauber C36 design reveals the lack of sponsorship from major companies. This lack of major sponsorship is deemed by many analysts to play an underlying factor when the team is faced with financial problems.
In a statement acquired by ESPN, Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn said, "Together with Longbow Finances S.A., we have great opportunities to be competitive again and to return to previous successes in Formula One."
The Sauber C36 is the first team car to be produced under the new leadership of Longbow Finance. While Zander claims that the new regulations imposed will favor bigger teams, he is optimistic that it will also present smaller teams with great opportunities.
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