New regulations provide a 'reset' for Sauber - Kaltenborn

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Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn believes Formula 1's new regulation environment provides the Swiss outfit with an opportunity to 'reset' its development.

The Hinwill-based squad endured a trying season last year with just a two points scored at the end of the season by Felipe Nasr at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Earlier in the year, with its finances in dire straits, Sauber received a welcome influx of cash from Longbow Financial which ultimately took over the Swiss team.

According to Kaltenborn, the start of a new regulation era has gone a long way to help Sauber as every team has been forced to start from a clean sheet of paper.

It is for me a very significant opportunity because we have not really had any setback in our development plan; we are on schedule,” Kaltenborn told RACER.

“With the new people coming in, even with a head of aerodynamics [Nicolas Hennel de Beaupreau] coming in, it has already had an effect on what we want to do.

"We have taken certain steps we wanted to and we could now, so actually it is all in place. I see this is a very big opportunity for us to take that next step."

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Without the development reset, Sauber would have indeed found itself once again in a difficult situation given the fact that it had fallen so far behind.

"If everything stayed the same we would have to take a much bigger step because we are that far behind. Now, with this, everything is in a way reset and you are more or less in a normal situation where you say, ‘OK, what step can we take? What will the others do?’

"And it’s not like you have to take twice the size of step to be close to where you want to be."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.