18 replies to this topic

[Dr.Raj]

So what do you think? Kimi and Nick have looked great so far, but is it the car thats making them look good?

I think its more the drivers. No basis for that conclusion

Its great to see Sauber doing so well, considering how bad they were in the last few seasons. Also, very brave on Sauber's part to pick Kimi and a big thanks to him for doing it.

[MP4/?]

I think it's the car... This days in F1 it's imposible to suceed without a strong car... Sauber has the better of the 2000's engines so they have a great perfomace this year...

Drivers are good, but, do you remember Heidfeld last year in Prost... The car is 85% in the modern F1...

[jimmy mike]

Actually, i think Heidfeld was very good last year at Prost. That damn Prost kept breaking under Heidfeld the whole year and Heidfeld wasn't able to do much running. Still last part of the season, Heidfeld was even able to outqualify Alesi even with very little running and testing of car at whole year. For me, Heidfeld was very impressive.

So i think it's the drivers. When Sauber tested at the end of last year with last year car and with new drivers, Heidfeld and Raikkonen, Sauber was much more competitive compare to other teams than they were during the actual season. All they did, was that they just changed the drivers and immediately Sauber were in pace.

I was really happy, when they announced that they decided to go the youth at this season. In my book, Heidfeld and Raikkonen already forms a one of the strongest driver line on the grid. Both drivers are pushing each other on the limit and for example result of Brasilian grand prix is confirmation of that. I would be quite surprised if Heidfeld and Raikkonen weren't drafted to the bigger teams at the end of the season, but in the meantime it's certainly great to see that Sauber finally has two good drivers and not guys like Mika "Excuse" Salo and Pedro "Money" Diniz.

[S2000]

Its both.

The car seems to be performing excellently this season, and not just because of the Ferrari 2000 engine, as proved by the disparate performances of Sauber and Prost.

Solid, fast and reliable chassis and engine.

A good gamble on the drivers too, Kimi has proven to have the speed, and NH finally getting the chance to show his potential.

[Zawed]

Its the car, they have a good one this year. The drivers are doing a good job to make use of it though.

[Mario]

A combination of both with a little bit of luck stepping in. After Petr Sauber lost some sponsorship one would think he would have a rough year. But the Saubers are looking quite reliable and in qualifying pretty sharp as the drivers have been able to crack the top 10 or close to it for the first 3 races of the year. Additionally these younger drivers are more hungry than the sorry lot before them. Gone are those so deep in mediocrity it wasn't funny. Heidfeld and Raikkonen look like they really want to succeed. So score a combination of wanting to win with a much improved Sauber. A car that is more reliable and most likely faster than any car they have ever produced. Sauber are on the way to their best ever season in Formula One.

[selena]

I agree with Dr.Raj. I think the drivers give the Sauber team that extra edge.

[Todd]

Sauber missed Brazil last year, but they were as good in Australia in 2000. For example, Mika Salo was 10th on the grid. He was 1.462 seconds off of pole. Nick Heidfeld was 10th this year. He was 1.723 seconds off the pole. In the race, Salo finished 45 seconds after Schumacher in 2000. Nick finished 71 seconds behind the same race winner in 2001. They had some bad luck in 2000, but the cars and Salo were just as competitive at the start of the season. A traditional Sauber weakness lies in development over the season. Besides, Nick was a lapped 3rd place finisher in Brazil. That had more to do with attrition than pace.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I think the Sauber problem is the Ferrari engine isnt 'fresh' after the first few GP's

[JL Wade]

Originally posted by S2000
Its both.

The car seems to be performing excellently this season, and not just because of the Ferrari 2000 engine, as proved by the disparate performances of Sauber and Prost.

Solid, fast and reliable chassis and engine.

A good gamble on the drivers too, Kimi has proven to have the speed, and NH finally getting the chance to show his potential.

I agree 100%: it's both. Also, Kimi has really been impressive (better than I ever imagined) and I'm going to watch him close this year.

Peace.

[AE@ERAU]

I have to agree with both S2000 and JL Wade in that both car and drivers are providing the Sauber team with such good results. Good drivers and a solid car car plus a little bit of luck and they'll continue to put up good results.

[Nikolas Garth]

I think Sauber has their best driver pairing since HHF was there, and even then Nick & Kimi might be their best ever combo.

[8nebula]

Sure Sauber are doing just fine at the moment with the car, the drivers and a hefty helping of luck all contributing factors. No doubt they will fall away again soon due to a lack of development.....the same as the always do.

[Silver Arrow]

Nick Heidfeld looked pretty good against Alesi last year....a pity about Sauber, the eternal midfield team.....I really think they have potential.....when asked if the team could ever win Mika Salo said it's impossible because the team's not big enough....if only they'd expand.......they already have the people and infrastructure in place..........btw are they situated in UK?

[Dr.Raj]

Originally posted by 8nebula
......... No doubt they will fall away again soon due to a lack of development.....the same as the always do.

Why? They developed the car over the winter and I believe they'll continue to do so over the season. This could be Sauber's year.

[surtees64]

I don't see any mention of the fact that Sauber has qualified as well or better than the BAR and Jag drivers. Are Nick and Kimi better drivers than JV, Panis and Irvine?
I'd have to say that car is simply performing better than anyone imagined it would.
Heidfeld's podium left him in position he started with all the dnf's (except for Trulli). Magnificent driving? I don't think I could give that kind of praise so soon. It's great to see them doing so well, but it's all car.

[Dr.Raj]

Originally posted by surtees64
I don't see any mention of the fact that Sauber has qualified as well or better than the BAR and Jag drivers. Are Nick and Kimi better drivers than JV, Panis and Irvine?

I think this argument is really unfair to both Nick and Kimi. How do you know they're not better than the drivers you mentioned. Nick did get past Trulli in Brazil and surely you'll agree that the Jordan is better than the Sauber. Okay, the Sauber was on a dry set up but Nick did stay right behind Trulli when the track was wet.

[B.Traven]

Heidfeld has proved yet that he is a superb driver . He had a fantastic career when he won the F-3000 championship by storm in 1999 ( ? ), and last year , as a rookie , he beat experienced teammate Alesi many times . For example, so far he is being systematically faster than rookie Kimmi , both in practice and in race.

[S2000]

Getting a bit off topic here, but imagine what Nick must be feeling this 2 weeks before Imola.

He must be feeling on top of the world, considering how just as much as 4 races ago, he was still driving that piece of sh*t Prost, struggling just to *finish* a race.