Sauber C32

The Sauber C32[7] was a Formula One racing car designed and built by the Sauber team for use in the 2013 Formula One season. It was driven by Esteban Gutiérrez in his Formula One debut alongside Nico Hülkenberg,[5][6] who joined the team after racing for Force India in 2012. The car was launched on 2 February 2013.[8]

Sauber C32
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorSauber
Designer(s)Matt Morris (Chief Designer)[1]
Pierre Waché (Head of Vehicle Performance)
Willem Toet (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorSauber C31
SuccessorSauber C33
Technical specifications[2]
ChassisMoulded carbon fibre composite monocoque incorporating front and side impact structures
Suspension (front)Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers actuated by pushrods
Suspension (rear)Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers actuated by pullrods
EngineFerrari Type 056 2.4 L (146 cu in) V8 (90°). Naturally aspirated, 18,000 RPM limited with KERS, mid-mounted.
TransmissionFerrari 7-speed quick-shift carbon gearbox, longitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch
Weight642 kg (1,415 lb) (including driver)[3]
TyresPirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)[4]
Competition history
Notable entrantsSauber F1 Team
Notable drivers11. Nico Hülkenberg[5]
12. Esteban Gutiérrez[6]
Debut2013 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF.Laps
190001

Design

The Sauber C32 features distinct narrow sidepods which, according to designer Matt Morris, were inspired by former driver Sergio Pérez's crash at the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix.[1] Pérez hit the barrier at the Nouvelle Chicane side-on, crushing the right-hand sidepod, which led to the team investigating whether it would be possible to incorporate narrow sidepods into a future design. This proved to be much harder than first anticipated, as the internal workings of the car had to be completely reconfigured to accommodate the slimmer design.[1]

In comparison to its predecessor, the Sauber C31, the C32 features a lower nose design.[9] The stepped nose concept used throughout 2012 was abandoned, and the nose was modeled to give it smooth profile. The air vent positioned forward of the cockpit in 2012 was retained.

2013 season

In his first race for Sauber, the Australian Grand Prix, Hülkenberg qualified in eleventh position but could not take the start due to a leak in his C32's fuel system.[10] Esteban Gutiérrez, in his first career Grand Prix, qualified in 18th place and finished in 13th position, the highest-placed rookie.[11] Hülkenberg achieved the team's first points of the season at the Malaysian Grand Prix, as he finished the race eighth, while Gutiérrez finished outside of the points in twelfth.[12]

In the fifth race of the year, the Spanish Grand Prix, both drivers progressed into Q2. Hülkenberg started from 15th on the grid and finished in the same position, while Gutiérrez qualified 16th, but a penalty demoted him to 19th on the grid and he finished the race in eleventh place, but the Mexican recorded the fastest lap with a time of 1:26.217 and a speed average of 194.370 km/h (120.776 mph).[13]

In Canada, both cars retired due to accidents, but Gutiérrez was classified 20th for having completing 90% of the race distance. Hülkenberg finished 10th in each of the next 2 races while Gutiérrez finished 14th. The next two races, the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix, saw the team record consecutive failures to score. However, in the Italian Grand Prix, Hülkenberg achieved a sensational third place in qualifying, and finished the race in a good fifth position. This was the best result for Hülkenberg since moving to the Sauber team at the beginning of the 2013 season, and the best result of a Sauber since Kamui Kobayashi's one and only podium finish, third place in the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix. Before it became better in Korea with 4th place while Gutiérrez equalled his best result with 11th after qualifying 7th and 8th respectively, before the next race saw both drivers finishing in the points with 6th and 7th places, but then the points-streak ended thanks to Hülkenberg's brake failure and Gutiérrez's drive-through for jumping the start.

Esteban Gutiérrez exiting his stranded car at the 2013 Chinese Grand Prix

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers Grands Prix Points WCC
AUS MAL CHN BHR ESP MON CAN GBR GER HUN BEL ITA SIN KOR JPN IND ABU USA BRA
2013 Sauber F1 Team Ferrari Type 056 P Nico Hülkenberg DNS 8 10 12 15 11 Ret 10 10 11 13 5 9 4 6 19† 14 6 8 57 7th
Esteban Gutiérrez 13 12 Ret 18 11 13 20† 14 14 Ret 14 13 12 11 7 15 13 13 12

† Driver failed to finish the race, but was classified as they had completed greater than 90% of the race distance.

References
  1. van Leeuwen, Andrew; Straw, Edd (2 February 2013). "Sauber C32 launch: Sergio Perez's Monaco crash inspired sidepods". Autosport.com. Haymarket Media Group. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  2. "Sauber C32 - F1technical.net".
  3. "Sauber C32-Ferrari". SauberF1Team.com. Sauber Motorsport AG. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  4. Noble, Jonathan; Beer, Matt (11 December 2013). "F1 teams expert enough to avoid early tyre struggles – Ross Brawn". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  5. "Sauber F1 Team signs on Nico Hulkenburg for 2013". Sauber F1 Team. 31 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  6. "Sauber F1 Team signs Esteban Gutiérrez as its race driver, Robin Frijns becomes test and reserve driver". Sauber F1 Team. 23 November 2012. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  7. Elizalde, Pablo (12 December 2012). "Sauber reveals 2013 F1 car has passed all mandatory crash tests". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  8. Beer, Matt (2 February 2013). "Sauber unveils its 2013 Formula 1 design, the C32". Autosport.com. Haymarket Media Group. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  9. Collantine, Keith (2 February 2013). "Sauber C32 and C31 compared". F1 Fanatic. Keith Collantine. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  10. "'Disappointed' Hulkenberg misses race". ESPN F1. ESPN Emea Ltd. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  11. "Rolex Australian GP – Race". Sauber F1 Team. Sauber F1. 17 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  12. "Malaysia: selected team and driver quotes". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. 24 March 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  13. http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2013/897/7299/fastest_laps.html
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