Sauber plan brake fix and new aero for Bahrain

2014 F1 season

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Sauber will bring a fix for their car’s troublesome brake-by-wire system and an extensive aerodynamic update to the second test of the season at Bahrain.

Team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said the C33 will have a “very extensive package” of new aerodynamic components at the test which begins on February 19th.

“We plan to have most of the parts on the car for the first test in Bahrain,” said Kaltenborn. “This includes new front and rear wings, side pod deflectors, as well as several other small elements on the car.”

“A few other parts will follow for the second test in Bahrain.”

Sauber’s brake-by-wire system was a cause for concern at the team during the first test at Jerez last week. “Not only the drivers, also the engineers were not happy about it,” said Kaltenborn.

“This was a software issue in the first place. We were able to make improvements throughout the test, but there is still room for improvement.

“However, our engineers are convinced that they have enough time to solve those weaknesses together with our engine partner by the next test.”

Despite the problems the team experienced with the new car Kaltenborn said the team were “satisfied” with the first test.

“Our car was ready just in time. The fact that the C33 functioned from the first day on track is a remarkable achievement by the team. A big compliment to everyone involved.”

She added it was too soon to draw conclusions about the performance of the three different engines. “It is very difficult to judge at this stage,” she said.

“The only thing you can place in an order is the number of laps the teams did with the respective engines. Here the order is clear: Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault. But to compare the performance is impossible at the moment, also because some might still be playing their cards close to their chests.

“I am sure there will be movement right up to the first race in Melbourne in that regard. At the moment this is just a snapshot. It will remain exciting.”

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Image © Sauber

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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14 comments on “Sauber plan brake fix and new aero for Bahrain”

  1. Completely unrelated to the article, but from that angle the C33 looks incredible.

    1. I like the sauber too, the strips on the dangling nose actually shoulder the burden a bit and I’m looking foward to see the new bits Monisha is referring to, it’s common to see teams delaying the intro of new aero parts until further tests, a trait shared by Ferrari.The objectives are to ensure data correlation and to have more time to produce the new parts.

    2. Just goes to show how close they are to getting F1 right.

    3. I dont like the grey though. Black could be pretty cool, if they put a white stripe for the Claro logo.

    4. The shape looks great but the livery is awfully drab

  2. I liked the initial pictures of the car. But to me, it just looks dull on track. Boring even.

  3. We will fix our problems in Bahrain – every team at this point.

    1. Bodes well for the season in my opinion!

  4. Luckily for teams they have two tests and GP in Bahrain – so “we will fix it for Bahrain” – covers considerable timeframe.

  5. Yes (@come-on-kubica)
    4th February 2014, 18:59

    Good to hear they plan on fixing the brakes…

  6. Im still amazed that F1 allows brake and throttle by wire, it just opens up the door for so many opportunities that most people would consider going against meritocracy with respect to the drivers. (shakes head) I bet if the teams wanted, they could run a car out of their simulator and all they would have to do is stick some ballast in the seat and a precision servo on the steering wheel.

    1. Does that mean that the brake(ing) is integrated with the Energy Recovery systems now? Does that mean that Ferrari have their own *working* system and that they can advice Sauber on how to better solve their integration issues?

      1. from what I gather, and which is consistent with ‘by wire’ just as it would be in an F-16, the pilot in the F1 car is only interfacing with an electronic sensor, which then sends signals to a computer, which biases/controls the brake pressure.

        this is very disappointing, and unneeded, as all you need to do is implement a sensor along side the actual brake lever/booster/master cylinder, in order to actuate/control the ERS recovery system.

        ERS, recovers energy from the drive train, it is not connected to the brakes or wheels, if you hit the gas and then suddenly come off, you will feel the engine slow down the car, that is engine braking, it is much more pronounced on a motorcycle due to the weight/power/engine breathes.

        Braking and throttling by wire means that the guy in the car isn’t the one biasing/manipulating the throttles/brake pressure, and it allows for traction control mechanisms to be installed, if feed back is allowed in to the computers controlling the throttle and braking systems. Its just a bad situation in general.

        I suppose F1 wants to follow google and make it so that it doesnt matter if anyone is driving their cars, the way of the future? Me, I would rather fancy a ride on a bicycle than be strapped in to a self driving car w/ an automatic transmission. There is nothing interesting about driving a car that doesnt need the driver’s skill to work the brakes and throttle.

        1. From what I understand only the rear brakes are brake by wire. With the front brakes still dependent on the pressure that the driver applies through the pedal driver skill still comes into play I think.

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