Sauber To Switch To Michelin

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From: Crash.Net

The Sauber Petronas team has surprised the Formula One paddock by signing a contract to switch to French tyre manufacturer Michelin with immediate effect.

Despite having been rumoured in the past, the announcement is something of a shock as Sauber had been expected to remain with Bridgestone after the Japanese company enjoyed greater success than its rival in 2004. Keeping the status quo would also have kept the Swiss team aligned with engine supplier Ferrari, which took 15 wins on Bridgestone rubber this season, but it is understood that Sauber was becoming increasingly frustrated at seeing the champions getting a bigger say in how the tyres were developed.

"I'm very pleased that we were able to sign this contract with Michelin, and I'm looking forward to a successful co-operation," team boss Peter Sauber said, "At the same time, however, I would like to thank Bridgestone for a good partnership during the past six years."

Sauber will conduct its first test on Michelin tyres later this month, running in Barcelona between 24-26 November.

"As we demonstrated in 2004, our technology makes a significant contribution to the performance of Formula One cars equipped by Michelin," the tyre company's head of competition operations, Pierre Dupasquier, commented, "I look forward to enabling Sauber to benefit from this progress."

The switch will see Sauber's new arrival, Jacques Villeneuve, remain on Michelin rubber after three races with the Renault team, but Felipe Massa, who will partner the Canadian in 2005 following the departure of Giancarlo Fisichella, will get his first taste of the French tyres during this month's test.

Sauber's move tips the 'balance of power' among the tyre manufacturers heavily in Michelin's favour - too heavily in fact. Each company has to display the capacity to supply four of the ten teams, and its is expected that at least one rival operation will make the move in the operation. Toyota is the current hot tip to switch to Bridgestone although, with the future of Jaguar, Jordan and Minardi still undecided, it remains to be seen exactly what moves might be made.

I think this is interesting, Ferrari will no doubt get great technical data and maybe traded tires (tyres for "british") on the black market.

[Sato 0]

That is abit of a shock, i figured they'd still be busy following everything Ferrari did.

[nojvnof1 0]

this is good news. I think Sauber wants to move away from the Ferrari B-Team image they have and a move away from BStone is a step in the right direction in my view. It helps explain why Sauber allowed JV to drive the Renault which was on Michelins. Should be good, unless it rains, then they're screwed.

[AutoRacer5 0]

Ah but will Ferrari be able to snag a set from Sauber to see how their car would responde to the rubber? or maybe they would like some technical data from these guys...

[nichosnz 0]

Ah but will Ferrari be able to snag a set from Sauber to see how their car would responde to the rubber? or maybe they would like some technical data from these guys...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No way the tyre companies are too protective to allow that to happen.

[Sato 0]

Didn't someone steal a tyre this year though?

[Shadow 0]

Even if they did no way they were going to test with just one tyre

[Shadow 0]

And the next question will be, are Sauber going to stick with the Ferrari engine???????????????????

[Sato 0]

I think they have a contract for the next few years....

[Shadow 0]

Anyway, I think the Ferrari engines are the best on the grid and if Sauber recieves the same spec engine, instead of the previous years( as was before), then there is little reason to change it.

[AutoRacer5 0]

Sauber had the same spec engines this year.

[KoolMonkey 0]

There's no way Sauber would ditch the Ferrari engines. Why? They are the best engines with the most reliability. All this news going around is just plain speculation without an ounce of fact. Sauber were having a hard time with the Bridgestone tyres and you gotta wonder if Bridgestone were giving Ferrari the better batch of tyres and Sauber the the not so good ones. Who knows. I just hope it doesn't dent their progress. 2004 ended up being a very good year for Sauber and I hope 2005 is even better. A top 4 result would be very difficult but not entirely out of the question for them. We'll just have to wait and see.

[nichosnz 0]

BAR's first Michelin year was so good, there are only 2 ways of telling it was the same team as that over-resourced/underacheiving monstrosity of years gone by.

1. The livery.

2. The employee schedule.