It’s that time of year again where Formula 1 teams introduce their new cars for the upcoming race season. Following Williams Martini Racing’s reveal of the FW40, Swiss racing outfit, Sauber Motorsport AG has unveiled its new C36-Ferrari.
This year marks the 25th F1 season in Sauber’s history, and the car’s blue, white and gold livery this season reflects that, with “25 Years n Formula One” clearly seen on top of the engine bay. As per 2017 regulations, the C36 differs heavily from last year’s car, with Sauber stating “not a single part that could be adopted from its C35 predecessor.
The most obvious rule change is the size of the tyres fitted to the car, which are up to 25% wider than in 2016. Rear tyre width is now 405 mm instead of 325 mm, while the fronts are now 305 mm from 245 mm. Unchanged here is the wheel rim size, which stands at 13 inches.
Along with fatter tyres, 2017 F1 cars will feature new bodywork and the C36 is no exception. Overall width of the car is now 2,000 mm (from 1,800 mm), matched by an increased front wing span of 1,800 mm (up by 150 mm). The sidepods are also wider as a result, with maximum width up from 1,400 mm to 1,600 mm.
The rear wing’s maximum height now stands at 800 mm (previously 950 mm), and is joined by a diffuser that benefits from an increased height of 175 mm (from 125 mm) and width of 1,050 mm (from 1,000 mm). It is also longer, now extending ahead of the rear wheel axle line.
The new bodywork also sees an increased maximum weight of 722 kg (plus tyres), a 20 kg gain from before. According to returning Sauber chief designer Jorg Zander, the C36 will place a greater emphasis on aerodynamic stability as opposed to maximising downforce by reducing the drag coefficient.
As for the powertrain, the Ferrari-sourced unit in the Abu Dhabi 2016 configuration will be used in the C36. Due to a new rule where only four of six units of a powertrain can be changed without penalty, manufacturers will prioritise durability over the top speed for their units.
The Swiss team will employ existing driver Marcus Ericsson and new arrival Pascal Wehrlein to pilot the pair of cars for the upcoming season. Last season, the Sauber F1 Team finished 10th in the World Constructors’ Championship.
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Looks like F1 cars from a few years back, with the “sail” over the engine cover. Anyways, the pictures were shot in the dark, obviously to hide certain features of the car from prying eyes. We’ll see the real car when the Barcelona tests begin.
Looks like Williams-Rothmans car