Sauber celebrates its 25 years of Formula 1 with a new-generation car which it hopes will commemorate the milestone appropriately.
While he only arrived at the Swiss team's base at Hinwill in January earlier this year, Sauber tech boss Jörg Zander has studied all the facets of the new regulations and gone deep into understanding the new car's concept.
The former Audi engineer believes a change of the regulation environment is always easier for the top tier outfits, but he's also convinced there are opportunities for a smaller team to shine.
"Basically, big teams also have an advantage when it comes to major changes in the regulations,” says Jörg Zander,
"But when the cards are reshuffled new opportunities always present themselves as well. The Sauber C36-Ferrari is wider and lower, with wider tyres making the car look more muscular than last year’s model, the C35.
"Practically just by looking at it, one can tell the speed the new car has increased as a result of more downforce and shorter braking distances – measured against lap time, not top speed – it is written all over its face.
"The width of the front tyres has increased from 245 to 305 mm, that of the rear tyres from 325 to 405 mm.
"Something that has not changed compared with 2016 is the fact that the wider tyres will be able to decide races as well when it comes to how they work and harmonise with the car’s setup and with respect to wear.
“With the tyres one might be able to mask deficits and get development concepts to work better," says Jörg Zander.
Powered by Ferrari's V6 turbo hybrid power unit, the C36 can rely on a 'tried and tested system with higher durability to begin with', according to Zander.
Speaking about the team's design resources, Zander also underlined the benefit of getting an early start.
"Being able to get started early and defining the engine environment was an advantage because the team was familiar with the engine and the transmission as well as the cooling requirements the engine entailed," concluded the engineer.
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