Vasseur sees no need to "transform" Sauber

  • Published on 11 Aug 2017 09:05
  • comments 0
  • By: Chris Soulsby

Sauber's Frederic Vasseur has said that he does not see a need for the Swiss team to "transform" as it attempts to move further forward on the F1 grid and away from the back of the pack. In recent years, Sauber has lost its shine and its competitive edge, going from one of F1's leading teams when backed by BMW to one of the back markers on the grid in the space of ten years. Off track, it has not been an easy time for Sauber, with financial difficulties plaguing the team although Longbow Finance's takeover in 2016 has eased this problem.

Vasseur joined Sauber after the British Grand Prix, one month after the exit of Monisha Kaltenborn - the team's former principal. The former Renault boss feels that the team do not have to undergo a major revolution to make performance gains however. "I don't have to transform the team, to be honest," said Vasseur. "I think that you have to put everything in perspective, the team last year was in a quite tough situation on the financial side. The restructuring went well, for sure we have to improve, but the team has a structure with very good engineers, very good technicians."

"We have to work, we have to invest, we have to do a lot of things, but everyone is pushing in the same direction, we have to do it step-by-step and we'll see," he added. "We have to target the midfield group, I don't know if it will take months or more, but we have to do it."

Outside of Sauber, Vasseur has a lot of connections and other responsibilities in motorsport, having business interests in Spark Racing Technology which is a key supplier in Formula E, and also in ART Grand Prix - a junior racing team which Vasseur co-founded in 2005.

Despite having other responsibilities, Vasseur stressed that he is dedicated to Sauber: "I don't have to divide my time, even if I kept some shares in my old business," he said. "I'm not involved at all in the management or day-by-day and I'm fully committed to the Sauber project – it was already like this last year [at Renault]."

 

Chris Soulsby

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar