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G A RY A N D E R S O N ' S
TEAM BY TEAM
S BLOXHAM/LAT
Sauber
Starts: 292
First GP: South Africa 1993
Best finish: 2nd
Best qualifying position: 2nd
Fastest laps: 3
2014 championship position: 10th
New Sauber should ensure the
team scores points this season
“There have been some flashy times in
testing, but I don’t believe for one minute
that Sauber is suddenly a victory contender”
SEASON
MARCUS ERI CSSON
S
8
24
Age:
Starts:
16
First GP:
Australia 2014
Best finish:
11th
Best qualifying position: 17th
Fastest laps:
0
2014 position:
19th
FELIPE NASR
We’ve seen Nasr win races in GP2,
and he’s done a decent job when he’s
had the chance to drive the Williams in
the past, so he’s a driver who has got
something about him. He seems to
have settled in well during testing so,
if the car is good enough to pick
up some top-10 finishes, he should
score some points.
S BLOXHAM/LAT
13
Age:
22
Starts:
0
First GP:
Best finish:
–
Best qualifying position: –
Fastest laps:
–
2014 position:
-
Ericsson had a very tough debut
season with Caterham last year,
with too many crashes, as he often
struggled to match up to his more
experienced team-mate Kamui
Kobayashi. But there were some
improved performances in the final
couple of races before Caterham
dropped off the grid.
Ferrari power unit will
need to have improved
WorldMags.net
STALEY/LAT
Ericsson makes the
jump from Caterham
MARCH 5 2015 AUTOSPORT.COM 65
PREVIEW
auber had an absolutely awful season
in 2014, failing to score a point and
rarely looking like it had a chance of
doing so. The car was very difficult to
drive, particularly in the first half
of the season, and wasn’t great
aerodynamically on top of the weakness
of the Ferrari engine. Things will
be better this year. But by how much?
Well, there have been some flashy times in
testing, but I don’t believe for a minute that the
Sauber is suddenly a victory contender. But it
should at least be able to fight with Force India
and Toro Rosso, which, other than Manor GP
– if the team makes it to the grid – are, on
size, the weakest teams.
Like all small teams, Sauber’s financial
situation isn’t great, so a lot will depend on
whether it’s on the right track with its
development work. The car isn’t a dramatic
step forward from last year, but if the major
weaknesses have been addressed and the Ferrari
power unit is stronger that should at least give
it a tidy enough car to go racing.
The key for Sauber is to achieve stability and
respectability this season. It couldn’t do that
last year, finishing behind Marussia in the
constructors’ points despite more resources. It’s
also had to sign two drivers with backing, but
in Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson it has two
drivers who know how to hold a steering wheel,
so that’s not as big a weakness as some suggest.
A good season and Sauber will be scoring
points again and having something to race for.
Beyond that, it’s going to be difficult to see how
it can do much better than seventh or eighth in
the makes’ race even with a decent step.
65
Sauber-Ferrari C34