Sauber Team Profile (2003)

Team Principle

1994 Brazilian GP

 Sauber moved up to f1 in 1993 but although scoring a few points the team did not perform to their expectations. 1994 was even worse and the expected progress did not happen which led Mercedes to move their engines to McLaren. 

 In 1996 now with Ford engines Johnny Herbert recorded a third place at Monaco but the rest of the season was still a struggle.

 By 1997 Sauber were now  using Ferrari engines and at the Hungarian GP. Johnny Herbert recorded another third place for the team. Still the rest of the season go no better than before.

 In 1998 Jean Alesi was signed by Sauber, Herbert was still at the team but had a bad year only once scoring any points, Alesi had a slightly better year finishing third at the French GP. and finishing in the points at another three GP's.

 1999 saw the team slip further down the constructors championship table and Alesi deciding to move to Prost for 2000, Pedro Diniz will be staying with the team for 2000 and will be joined by Mika Salo.   

 In 2000 Sauber scored six constructors championship points and finished the season eighth overall, all the teams points were scored by Mika Salo with two fifth and two sixth places. Salo finished equal tenth in the drivers table with six points, next year he is going to Toyota as test driver ahead of their entrances in to formula one in 2002.

 In 2001 both drivers changed, the line up was Nick Heidfeld from Prost and new driver Kimi Raikkonen. The team had a great year finishing fourth overall in the constructors championship, Heidfeld finished =7th in the drivers championship and Raikkonen finished 10th.

 This year Kimi Raikkonen has left the team to join McLaren, Nick Heidfeld remains with the team and new driver  Felipe Massa has joined as number two driver. Can the team continue to build on their success of last year and stay ahead of the Honda engine teams of Jordan and BAR?