Official: Ferrari will equip Sauber in 2018
Following Honda's withdrawal announcement for the 2018 season, Sauber confirmed that Ferrari would continue to supply them with engines for the 2018 season and beyond.
It didn’t take long to learn the identity of Sauber’s “new” engine supplier for 2018. After announcing the cancellation of the project with Honda, the Swiss team decided to opt for stability.
It is therefore a Ferrari power unit that will equip the Sauber single-seaters from next year and for a long-term contract as confirmed by Frédéric Vasseur, the new Sports Director of the team based in Hinwill: I am very happy to confirm that we will continue to work with Ferrari as an engine supplier, and this with a multi-year agreement. The shared experience between Sauber and Ferrari has created solid foundations that will allow us to move forward effectively, especially with the development of the 2018 car.
Remains to be seen if Sauber will be entitled to the latest specifications of the Italian power unit next year. This year, the Swiss cars are equipped with last year’s engines, resulting in a glaring power deficit.
Moreover, this announcement of a new partnership with Ferrari could allow drivers from the Italian team’s Drivers Academy, like Charles Leclerc or Antonio Giovinazzi, to secure positions at Sauber. Giovinazzi even competed in two races with the Swiss team at the start of the season, replacing the injured Pascal Wehrlein.
