Sauber launch their 2015 car; the C34

This morning, the Sauber F1 Team was the next Formula One team to launch their 2015 car; the C34 via an online launch.

Amid a fight for survival last year as the team's search for finances reached critical levels, the Swiss team plummeted to tenth place in the Constructors' Championship after failing to register a point for the first time.

The winter has witnessed a clear-out of the team's 2014 driver line-up with Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez jettisoned for ex-Caterham driver Marcus Ericsson and GP2 graduate Felipe Nasr. Italian Raffaele Marciello, a young driver on the books of engine suppliers Ferrari, is the team's new reserve driver and will drive in some Friday practice sessions.

The decision to part with Gutierrez after two seasons, however, means that Sauber's four-year relationship with Telmex has ended, the Mexican communications giant moving its interests to Force India and Ferrari. Japanese firm NEC has also switched its allegiances to Force India.

The surprise arrivals of Ericsson and Nasr have certainly unlocked much-needed funds for Sauber from the drivers' respective countries, with Nasr's association with Banco do Brasil thought to be worth around $24 million alone.

In an interview with the media today, Sauber Team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn stated the following about their driver line up this season as follows:-

'We have to improve and be able to fight for championship points. I am delighted about our two new drivers who bring a breath of fresh air. Both are young, talented and highly motivated. On their way to Formula 1 both stood out through victories in Formula BMW and Formula 3.

'Both then finished this career progression off in the GP2-Series. While Marcus looks back to one season in Formula 1, Felipe will have his rookie year in which he comes fully prepared due to his role as test and reserve driver at Williams last year. I feel confident with regard to our drivers.'

It is clear that Kaltenborn is delighted with the driver line up that they have this season and feels that they needed to have a fresh line up after their established driver line up of Sutil and Gutierrez didn't reap the rewards that they wanted to last season.

Kaltenborn feels that the mix of experience with Ericsson who drove for Caterham last season alongside youth in regards to Ericsson's team mate of Nasr who was a Williams test driver and GP2 driver last season and also test driver in Marciello is the direction to go in this season and Sauber appear confident that they have made the right decision this season.

However, the goal remains clear for Kaltenborn which is to get their drivers in the position that they can fight and be able to score championship points and that would be a terrific achievement if Sauber could do that given their performance last season where they failed to score any points since their debut in 1993 in the sport.

Sauber's long-standing relationship with Ferrari remains in place, however, with the Hinwil team's car to one again be powered by the Maranello marque's V6 turbo. In a statement from Ferrari, they have said that the changes made to the V6 power units this year should benefit them and Sauber. The statement read as follows:-

'The aim has been not only to increase the power from the turbocharged engine, but above all to optimise the car’s energy recovery and energy storage capability. In terms of its concept, the engine is very much comparable with last year’s, but its architecture has changed significantly, necessitating numerous adjustments to the chassis.'

The Ferrari-powered car also has a striking nose design – featuring a more rounded front edge than seen on the other 2015 cars so far. Sauber’s design team has focused on three areas for improvement over last year’s car: better performance in slow-speed corners, weight reduction and improved braking stability.

The car features slimmer sidepods compared to the C33, and the team has overhauled its radiator concept and now mounted them horizontally. Packaging around the rear of the car is much tighter, and Sauber’s quest to get under the weight limit to allow maximum ballast has been boosted by the raising of F1’s minimum weight limit to 702kg.

In his own interview with the media today, Sauber's Chief Designer Eric Gandelin stated the following about designing the C34:-

'We were able to gain a lot of experience during the course of the 2014 season, which will have an influence on the Sauber C34. Parts will be added to the new car ahead of its race debut in Melbourne in mid March. We will use the time up to Melbourne to ensure we’re as competitive as possible when we line up on the grid for the season opener.'

From what Gandelin has stated in his interview today, even though Sauber had a disappointing 2014 season, Gandelin has been able to use that in order to create a platform to improve and develop the C34 over the winter. Even though at this present time, Sauber plans to use an interim version of the car for the first test, which will include some parts still from the C33, this can only be a good thing for the team as they learn more about the C34 and can iron out any problems that arise.

But the good news is that these parts will be replaced with bespoke 2015 components ahead of the season in order as Gandelin says that Sauber are in the best possible position to start this season and that has to be their objective currently. And I do seriously hope that the C34 is the improvement that is needed for Sauber to get back to challenging for points finishes once again this season.

Ericsson will be the first man to drive the car when he takes to the track at Jerez on Sunday. But the big question that all Formula One fans are asking themselves with Sauber this season is; can they get back to the midfield once again with the C34 and with a mixed driver line up of Ericsson and Nasr? Let's hope so because Sauber deserve to be back fighting for points finishes in the midfield where they belong.