F1: 3 reasons for Sauber's turnaround in 2018

#2 The Ferrari Engine

The Sauber had the advantage of the Ferrari engine in 2018

One of Frédéric Vasseur’s most important decisions on his appointment in 2017 was to scrap an impending deal with Honda for engines. He found a way to get current spec Ferrari ones for 2018 that made an immediate impact. Sauber also announced at the end of the 2017 season that they have signed a multi-year technical and commercial partnership contract with Alfa Romeo, therefore the team will be renamed to Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team going forward.

The Alfa Romeo funding and Ferrari powertrains set the ball rolling to develop a chassis and car that would finally stop getting lapped and compete regularly to get into Q3. Vasseur having started his career in the junior Formula-series had intimate knowledge of the technical and aerodynamic aspects. As the development pace sped up, further down the year, Sauber were regulars in the best of the rest fights in the midfield.