F1 | Sauber, Vasseur: “In 2017 our problem was not the engine, but the chassis”

The one just passed was for the Clean one of the worst seasons in its history: the Swiss team ranked last in the constructors' championship, with a mere 5 points to its credit, the result of an 8th and a 10th place obtained by pascal wehrlein in Spain and Azerbaijan. The gap compared to the competition was often embarrassing: according to many, the difficulties encountered by the Hinwil team were attributable to the choice to use the Ferrari Power Unit 2016, instead of that of 2017.

The team principal Frederic VasseurHowever, he doesn't think exactly like this: “We have to be honest with ourselves” – began the French ad Motorsport. "The biggest problem was the engine: it's true, the engine was from 2016, but the actual handicap was only a couple of tenths. If we compare ourselves with other teams, the biggest problem was the chassis: we need to focus on this and push like crazy on aerodynamics”.

In any case, in 2018, the "Power Unit problem" will not arise: Sauber, fresh from sponsorship with Alfa Romeo, in fact he will benefit from the updated engine of Ferrari.

Federico Martino