Sauber boss: No excuses for 2017

With Sauber’s future secure, Monisha Kaltenborn says there are “no excuses” not to have a good campaign in 2017.

Sauber made headlines for all the wrong reasons at the start of this season as financial troubles meant salaries went unpaid.

The cash flow issues also hampered them out on track, leaving Sauber the only team yet to score a single point this championship.

However, with the Swiss team sold to Longbow Finance last month, Kaltenborn is confident Sauber can bounce back.

“Our focus is to get back to business as normal,” the team boss told Autosport.

“We need to focus not just on how to survive the next day but to think longer term and get the most out of the car.

“I’m convinced you can still get things out of this year’s car but then focus on next year’s car.

“There are no excuses not to be good next year.

“We’re not saying we want to be right on top next year, but we know what we can do.

“We have the infrastructure for it and we have the people so why should we not have that ambition?”

The team is also focused on recruiting personnel as they still need to replace Mark Smith, who was the technical director, and former head of track engineering Tim Malyon

“We would like a technical director back and the people want that as well but it’s not easy to find the right person.

“It has hurt because you do not get the highest efficiency out of a group but if this is the way we had to work, there’s no point in saying it would be better not like this.

“We have had to make the most of it but yes, bringing in a technical director would make it more efficient.”

She added: “There are a couple of areas we need to look at.

“Wherever it is strategically necessary, yes we will recruit.

“It is about additions and replacements.

“Now we have a chance again, we have to be open to making the most of it, and this will involve changes.”