Sauber unveil new car for 2013 F1 season

ZURICH (AFP) –

Sauber F1 team drivers Nico Hulkenberg (L) from Germany and Esteban Gutierrez from Mexico pose behind their Sauber C32-Ferrari race car which will compete in the 2013 Formula One season, on February 2, 2013 in Hinwil, Switzerland.

The Sauber F1 team unveiled their new Sauber C32-Ferrari car in Hinwil, Switzerland on Saturday, that drivers Nico Huelkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez hope will launch them into a successful 2013 Formula One season.

The Swiss team are optimistic for the upcoming campaign, which kicks-off in Melbourne on March 17.

They finished sixth in last year’s constructors’ championship, which was won by the Red Bull team of drivers’ world champion Sebastian Vettel and Australian Mark Webber.

“The 2012 season was a very successful year for us,” said team boss Monisha Kaltenborn.

“We not only moved up from seventh to sixth place in the constructors’ standings, but also improved our points total from 44 in 2011 to 126 last season.

“We have a strong platform in place now, on which we are aiming to build and continue our upward curve.”

Kaltenborn believes Gutierrez is ready to make his mark in Formula One, and is also pleased with the arrival of Germany’s Huelkenberg, who will make his debut with the team after spells with Williams and Force India.

“We have had our eye on Nico Huelkenberg for some time and have been impressed by his performances,” Kaltenborn explained.

“He is very quick, but, most importantly, he’s also very efficient.