SAUBER-PETRONAS |
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| Managing director: Peter
Sauber Technical director: Leo Ress Team manager: Beat Zehnder Drivers: Jean Alesi (14), Johnny Herbert (15) Test driver: Jorg Muller Engine: Petronas V10 SPE 01D Engine history: V10 Illmor-Mercedes (1993-1994), V8 Ford (1995), V10 Ford (1996), V10 Petronas since 1997 |
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| Formula 1
debut: 1993 Best finish: Monaco 1996 and Budapest 1997 (Herbert, 3rd) Best placing, drivers' championship: 1995 (Frentzen, 9th) Best placing, constructors' championship: 1993 (6th) Record: 81 grands prix |
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For the Swiss team, 1998 is
a very important season. Indeed, decisive. The Sauber
team has one of the biggest budgets in F1 (the equivalent
of 500 million French francs)! The team has expanded, in
spite of the departure of Max Welti, friend of team owner
Peter Sauber for twenty years. Arrivals include the
Japanese engine specialist Osamu Goto and French driver
Jean Alesi. The Sauber-Petronas team has the most
experienced pair of drivers in the championship: Johnny
Herbert and Alesi total 248 grands prix between them.
This gives Sauber a chance of making more frequent
appearances on the podium than in previous years.
Especially as the Petronas SPE-01D engine appears to be a
lot more reliable than in the past. An interesting
combination... |
