Sauber - Ferrari Owners' Club

2.12.2004

We reported in January that the apparent similarity between the Sauber C23 (which uses Ferrari's engine and gearbox) and the F2003 GA led rival teams to protest that the new Sauber was simply a blue Ferrari, which is against the sport’s technical regulations.

This was denied by Sauber and dismissed by the FIA, but was symbolic of the closeness of the relationship between the two teams, they also shared Bridgestone tyres and the services of Felipe Massa, who raced for Sauber and tested for Ferrari; yet, the announcement this week that Massa will no longer be allowed to test for Ferrari is one of a number of developments which suggest the relationship may be grinding to a halt.

This may have started in October, when Sauber signed the F1 Cost Savings Agreement reached by all of the teams except Ferrari; Jean Todt claiming that he was not even invited to the meeting. Peter Sauber said at the time: "It is important for me to clarify that my signature by no means indicates any form of action against Ferrari".

Less than a fortnight later, Sauber made a shock switch from Bridgestone to Michelin tyres, which meant that only Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi would run the Japanese rubber next year. The other two seem unlikely to be in a position to make a significant contribution to tyre development, effectively leaving Ferrari on their own, which means that the reduction in testing agreed at the aforementioned meeting, would hurt the Scuderia even more.

Testing is a key factor in Ferrari's success, they own two circuits (Fiorano and Mugello) and employ two F1 test drivers, last season Luca Badoer and Felipe Massa. In November the Scuderia announced that they had signed Spaniard Marc Gené, part of the reason became clear with the Massa announcement, but the fact that Gené is fresh from Williams, with experience of their chassis, the BMW engine and Michelin tyres can't have gone against him either!

The sheer scale of Ferrari testing and attention to detail, as well as the depth of their resources is revealed when you consider that last week, in addition to circuit testing, Ferrari Maserati Gruppo test driver Andrea Bertolini did 666km (!) of straight line aerodynamic testing at Vairano - this at a time when some teams seemingly can't afford to pay their 'phone bills. No wonder they are looking to hobble the Prancing Horse!

However, it seems that Ferrari are not taking this lying down. AUTOSPORT recently reported that Sauber could lose the supply of Ferrari V10 engines for 2006, which they would by then have enjoyed for nine seasons. The contract between the two companies expires at the end of 2005 and Italian sources have claim that the engineers currently involved on the Sauber programme have been told they'll be moved on to other duties. Peter Sauber, at the first winter test in Barcelona, denied he knew anything about it. Sauber have announced that the 2005 C24 will use their own gearbox.

If this does happen, Ferrari are unlikely to be without an engine customer for long; the new "Midland" Team (backed by Russians, rather than .phper Carrot) due to be on the grid in 2006, are reported to be very interested.