Sauber on a diet, Sutil disadvantaged
The new regulation is not only a technological challenge. It notably presents a thorny issue concerning the weight of the drivers. Indeed, the tallest and heaviest drivers would lose several tenths per lap. This is particularly problematic for the Sauber team, whose car, Ferrari engine, and one of the drivers are among the heaviest on the grid.
Since this year, with the emergence of hybrid technology, the weight of engines has increased. That is why the 2014 regulations impose a minimum weight, including the driver, of 691kg (article 4.1 Technical Regulations). This weight, 50kg higher than the weight imposed in /f1/actualite/16389-nigel-mansell-trouve-honteux-le-poids-minimum-pour-2014.html, however, might not be sufficiently high to compensate for the additional weight of taller drivers, who are therefore at a disadvantage compared to lighter drivers.
The case is particularly striking within the Sauber team, which includes Adrian Sutil, the heaviest driver on the grid with his 75kg, and Esteban Gutiérrez, the second lightest driver at 61kg. The German driver thinks he loses about half a second per lap solely because of his weight.
Indeed, while developing its C33 during the winter, the Swiss team did not manage to get closer to the minimum weight of the 2014 version F1 cars. Added to this is the fact that the Ferrari engine powering the Sauber is the heaviest of the 2014 engines.
Sutil wishes for a rapid evolution of the regulations
The German driver believes he has done everything possible to be as light as possible. Regarding his weight, he states: « I can’t lose any more, that’s just how I’m built. I am a tall man and I can’t do anything more. »
According to him, the FIA should seriously look into this issue: « The shorter drivers are clearly advantaged. It’s obvious that everyone knows it and I hope there will be regulatory adjustments very soon. It’s very different from what was happening a few years ago because taller drivers are clearly disadvantaged in lap times. »
An opinion that is not without joining that of Nigel Mansell, expressed last October.
Expected developments at Sauber
Pending a response from the FIA, the Swiss team will continue to work on their car. One of the priorities in the development of the C33 is thus to reduce the car’s weight by about twenty kilos. This process will gradually take place until Barcelona.
On this subject, Monisha Kaltenborn states to Autosport: « We have planned a major upgrade in Barcelona, but we will introduce specific measures to reduce weight for the next two races. »
Start of response as early as this weekend for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which you can follow in full on MotorsInside.
