Sauber reveal C29 (Gallery)
Sauber have today launched thir 2010 challenger – the C29 at the Ricardo Tormo race track in Valencia.
“The last few months have been very intense for us,” says team boss and owner Peter Sauber. “First we had to battle to secure the survival of the team and then we focused on putting a strong set-up in place for the future. The technical preparation of the 2010 car has continued uninterrupted and according to plan since the spring of 2009, despite all the turmoil. We have a long tradition of bringing together an up-and-coming youngster and an experienced campaigner as a driver combination – and it’s an approach that has brought us a lot of success. Pedro has been working at the highest level technically for many years and for a top team, and we can benefit as a team from this experience. Young Kamui also has a lot to offer us, and last year he impressed me particularly in Abu Dhabi.”
For De la Rosa, a long-harboured hope has been realised: “At last I can feel like a proper racing driver again. I’ve really missed the competition out on the track. At the same time, though, I’ve learned a lot technically and on the systems side, and now I want to bring that knowledge to the team.”
Kobayashi can’t wait to tackle his first full season in Formula One: “I’m very proud that Peter Sauber has shown so much faith in me and I’m determined not to disappoint him. My aim is that he will end up being proud of me as well.”
BMW Sauber C29
Rampf explains: “The development of the BMW Sauber C29 has seen the team build on the experience gained last year and the improvement in performance over the final third of the season. However, the new regulations banning refuelling during the race and stipulating a reduced width for the front tyres have required significant changes to the car’s design.”
The increased length of the fuel tank means the car has grown longer overall. And because they are slimmer, the front tyres will be more heavily worked, requiring weight to be shifted further towards the rear of the car.
An eye-catching feature of the C29 is its highly intricate raised nose. Also very distinctive is an extremely long undercut at the transition from chassis into underbody. These and other aerodynamic measures also help to ensure optimum airflow to the double diffuser. Further changes were required to integrate the Ferrari engine and, in particular, the Ferrari gearbox.
Specification
Chassis: Carbon-fibre monocoque
Suspension: Upper and lower wishbones (front and rear), inboard springs and dampers, actuated by pushrods (Sachs Race Engineering)
Brakes: Six-piston brake callipers (Brembo), carbon pads and discs (Brembo, Carbon Industries)
Transmission: Ferrari Seven-speed quick shift gearbox, carbon, longitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch
Chassis electronics: MES
Steering wheel: BMW Sauber F1 Team
Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza
Wheels: OZ
Length: 4,940 mm
Width: 1,800 mm
Height: 1,000 mm
Track width, front: 1,495 mm
Track width, rear: 1,410 mm
Weight: 620 kg (including driver, tank empty)
Gallery
BMW Sauber sign de la Rosa
The 38-year-old Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa has been confirmed as driving for the BMW Sauber team in 2010, alongside rookie teammate Kamui Kobayashi. de la Rosa said:
“I always firmly believed I would be given another chance as a team driver. Since the number of test drives were radically reduced, this was what I was working towards.
“I’m really excited about the season with Peter Sauber’s team, which has been a solid fixture in Formula 1 ever since 1993.”
A veteran of 72 Grands Prix, de la Rosa’s first F1 stint was from 1999-2002, during which time he raced for the Arrows and Jaguar teams. From 2003 onwards, de la Rosa has driven for McLaren as a test driver, making 9 race appearances in the process.
In his F1 career so far, de la Rosa has collected 29 points, and just a single podium.
Kobayashi confirmed at Sauber
Sauber have today confirmed their first driver for 2010 – Japanese former Toyota driver Kamui Kobayashi.
Kobayashi stood in for an injured Timo Glock at Toyota in the last 2 races of last season to make his F1 debut. He finished 9th and 6th but won himself an instant fanbase due to his aggressive style. Kobayashi has previously won the GP2 Asia Series, Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Renault 2.0 Italia. He said:
“Ever since the start of my career I have dreamed of racing in F1. Now this dream has come true. I am very happy that my two races in 2009 have earned me a cockpit place.
“I will do my very best for Peter Sauber’s team and I am proud to be able to carry on flying the Japanese flag in F1.”
Team boss Peter Sauber said:
“I’m very much looking forward to working together with Kamui. In the final two Grand Prix of last season he was granted an unexpected chance to show his skills, and he made impressive use of it.
“Particularly in the Abu Dhabi race he demonstrated not only that he can drive fast and aggressively, but also his ability to successfully implement a strategy. I am convinced he has a great deal of potential and will be able to make the most of it in our team.”
Kobayashi at Sauber in 2010?
It has been reported that Kamui Kobayashi will drive for Sauber in 2010 after an impressive showing at the the end of the season.
Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat alleges that a deal has been made but that no confirmation will be made until both race seats have been filled.
Kobayashi had hoped for a race with Toyota, but the Japanese manufacturer have pulled out of the sport.
Giancarlo Fisichella, Nick Heidfeld and Pedro de la Rosa are believed to be on Sauber’s shortlist, and Peter Sauber has already expressed a desire for a blend of youth and experience behind the wheel.
It is also rumoured that Belgian driver Bertand Baguette (what a name!) will get the test and reserve driver role in Sauber, if you believe comments made by his manager. Baguette drove for BMW Sauber during the last day of the youngsters’ test in Jerez.
Turun Sanomat has also reported Malaysian oil company Petronas will maintain it’s backing of the Swiss team.
What are your favourite moments of the season?
This post is a place where we can put all our favourite moments of the 2009 season. I have set the ball rolling with a few of my faves below. Leave a comment on the bottom of this page to give your suggestions and they will be added to this post.
My favourite moments
Jenson Button wins in Melbourne
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvoxqcVQY4A]
This has to be one of the most memorable moments of the season. We all had no idea what was coming. Button had gone from a backmarker in previous years (which is where we expected him to be in 2009) to race winner at the first race of the season. It was a simply incredible moment.
Jenson Button: “We are the champions!”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBtOt6RlmzQ]
This moment encapsulated all of the excitement of everyone in Britain, we had another World Champion, and he was as excited as every single one of us.
Post race scenes after Jenson Button wins the World Championship in Brazil
Tears as Toyota withdraw from F1.
It was rumoured for a couple of days but today Toyota announced their shock withdrawal from Formula 1. It seems that F1 is a luxury Toyota can no longer afford in the global financial situation.
The Toyota boss Akio Toyoda told a press conference in Tokyo:
“This was a difficult but ultimately unavoidable decision. Since last year with the worsening economic climate, we have been struggling with the question of whether to continue in F1.
“We are pulling out of Formula One completely. I offer my deepest apologies to Toyota’s many fans for not being able to achieve the results we had targeted.”
Toyota Motorsport Chairman Tadashi Yamashina was visibly upset by this press conference and was in tears during the announcement.
There may be legal ramifications to follow also as Toyota had previously signed the Concorde Agreement which should have kept them in F1 until at least 2012.
Who replace Toyota on the grid?
It seems that the former BMW team now backed by investment company Qadbak will replace Toyota on the grid, with BMW F1 boss Mario Theissen saying he will discuss the 2010 vacancy with the FIA.
Help Kamui Kobayashi!
A lot of Kamui Kobayashi fans (including myself) are now left worried as to where the rookie will be next season. The Japanese 23 year old endeared himself to F1 fans immediately with his aggressive and fighting style in his two races.
If you are a Kamui Kobayashi fan with a twitter account then join our twitition to keep Kobayashi in the sport at http://twitition.com/zv6yf!
Toyota to withdraw from F1?
The Japanese newspaper the Mainichi Daily News is reporting that Toyota will withdraw from F1 for the 2010 season. The team are set to follow other Japanese companies Honda (who are now Brawn GP) and Bridgestone who will stop supplying tyres to F1 following next years 2010 season.
The newspaper is citing the global financial crisis for the withdrawal of Toyota from F1.
Toyota have competed in 139 races since their debut at the 2002 Australian Grand Prix, collecting 0 race victories, 3 pole positions and 3 fastest laps.
If this story is true, it is ironic to think that everyone had thought Kamui Kobayashi had secured a drive with the team after impressive displays in his 2 races. Will he have to go back to his Dad’s sushi restaurant after all?
Update 04/11/09 07:31GMT
Toyota at 4 pm-5 pm, hold a press conference at the Tokyo headquarters of the company’s motorsport activities. President Akio Toyoda to attend. We are expecting an announcement soon, possibly within the next half hour. More as it happens…
Kobayashi: I could have been making sushi.
Toyota driver Kamui Kobayashi has said that when he was driving in GP2 earlier this season, prior to covering for Timo Glock in an F1 Toyota race seat, he no longer had any money to race in the F1 feeder series and almost went to work in his father’s sushi restaurant, until the lucky break of an F1 drive following a bad crash from the German, Timo Glock.
Kobayashi has impressed in his 2 F1 races ending this season, finishing 9th and 6th respectively prompting strong rumours that he will be offered a Toyota race seat for 2010, a rumour strengthened by the Toyota F1 boss saying that he was impressed with Kobayshi.
The 23 year old Japanese driver Kobayshi said:
“I have no budget, no budget. So I cannot drive GP2 next year. I would probably go back to Japan to maybe work with my father in his sushi restaurant.”
“It was like that two months ago, seriously. When I was 16 years old I worked there, making sushi.”
Toyota Motorsport President John Howett praised Kobayashi for his fighting spirit, but Kobayashi wondered what the fuss was about.
“I don’t need to be worried for me because it is not the Mafia.”
“I have tried to be a Toyota driver for next year but I didn’t know how much I could show before. I just had to do the best at each moment and it seems to have finally worked well.”
“Still I have many things to do. I have to improve qualifying and I need time. But the last two weeks have been quite good for me.”
Kobayashi set for Toyota 2010 drive.
Kamui Kobyashi looks set to drive for the Toyota F1 team in the 2010 season. The 23 year old Japanese driver has only ever made 2 Grand Prix appearances – Brazil and Abu Dhabi this season, where he stood in for the injured Timo Glock and has impressed many people with his 9th and 6th place finishes.
Toyota look set for a completely new driver line up for the 2010 season with Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock rumoured to go elsewhere.
When asked is Kobayashi will be driving for Toyota next season, Toyota motorsport president John Howett replied with:
“It looks like it, yes.”
“We have to really seriously consider him now after this good strong result.”
“I was very impressed, we were very happy again.”
“What we like is his real fighting spirit, not intimidated by anybody.”
“He’s a product of our own driver programme so therefore it’s another positive reason, he’s Japanese and we’re a Japanese team. So there are lots of positives.”
“I think we always understood he was very good in terms of racing spirit, I think all through his career.”
“But partly because the GP2 pace didn’t look that competitive you are always hesitant about the risk.
“I think it’s a definite lesson that sometimes we all should be braver in our driver choices and not go for the safer, risk-hedged decision.”
Kobayashi in for Glock in the final race of the season.
Japanese driver Kamui Kobayshi will continue to stand in for Timo Glock for the second consecutive race at the final Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi next weekend for the Toyota team after the German crashed in Suzuka.
Team principal John Howett said; “We feel genuinely sorry for Timo that his season, which has included two impressive podium finishes, is ending in this way. Having discussed the medical advice with Timo and his management, the team has decided to take no risk and to put Kamui in the car. Kamui performed well in Brazil in difficult circumstances so we are happy to ask him to once again deputise.”
Source: ToyotaThis will only be Kobayashi’s second race in F1, with his first coming in the race at Interlagos on October 18th where he finished the race just outside the points paying positions in 9th and being branded ’absolutely crazy’ by Jenson Button.
Below is a video of the crash which has ruled out Timo Glock for the remainder of the season.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWAghJqwyvg]