Red Bull Sauber Petronas - 1998

Drivers J Herbert J Alesi

Tyres

Sauber - facts, figures, drivers

(c)REUTERS

Location: LONDON

Following are facts and figures about the Sauber team ahead of the 1998 Formula One season:

Formula One record:

Starts - 81

Poles - 0

Wins - 0

1997 season - seventh with 16 points

History -

1977 - First Sauber car entered in Le Mans 24-hour race.

1989 - Sauber wins sports car title and Le Mans.

1993 - enters Formula One championship.

Prospects for the 1998 season -

Sauber C17 powered by Ferrari-based Sauber Petronas SPE01D, Goodyear tyres.

Little reason to expect this season to be any different for Sauber, winning points here and there but rarely threatening to win. Reliable car but engine not likely to set circuits alight. Removal of team director Max Welti came as shock over the winter and strong rumours recently retired Gerhard Berger will take some role in team. Interesting driver pairing in Johnny Herbert and Jean Alesi, the most experienced on the grid with 248 races between them. Herbert won sole number one last season but will be happy to have testing load lessened by Alesi's arrival.

Johnny Herbert - Aged 33, British. Races 113, poles 0, wins 2. Solid, efficient driver who gives 100 percent. Carried the full load at Sauber last season due to lack of regular co-driver. Took third place in Hungary. Won two races in two seasons with Benetton, where he was in partnership with Michael Schumacher, but has slipped down the ratings with Sauber. Started career in 1989 and is also winner of Le Mans 24-hour race.

Jean Alesi - Aged 33, France. Races 135, wins 1, poles 2. Highly rated for many years but he has yet to fulfil his undoubted talent. Had good season in 1997 with Benetton which saw him finish fourth overall, including four second places. Known as a volatile character in and out of the cockpit but could not be faulted for consistency last season. In a perfect world his emotional drive would complement Herbert's level-headedness but their equal status might crack under pressure.

News

18 March 1998

• Herbert tests for Sauber.

17 March 1998

• Alesi faster during second day of practice.

16 March 1998

• Sauber test report

14 March 1998

• Sauber to work on understeer problem

13 March 1998

• Sauber to test at Fiorano

11 March 1998

• Alesi's to have private test

8 March 1998

• Sauber Australian GP race press release
• Result of Australian Grand Prix
• Sunday's practice times

7 March 1998

• Driver's comments after Saturday's qualifying
• Herbert delighted - Sauber press release.
• Revised Australian Grand Prix qualifying times
• Australian Grand Prix qualifying times

6 March 1998

• Sauber Australian GP practice press release
• Australian Grand Prix practice session times

2 March 1998

• Herbert concerned about Alesi.
• Odds for 1998 grand prix season

1 March 1998

• Herbert believes Schumacher wants to make amends

28 February 1998

• Alesi out to prove himself.
• What to expect in 1998

26 February 1998

• Best times at Barcelona last week - overall

25 February 1998

• Sauber to run own engines in 1999

20 February 1998

• Barcelona testing report

19 February 1998

• Takagi impress again.

18 February 1998

• McLaren continue setting the pace.
• Barcelona test report for Tuesday

17 February 1998

• Herbert confidant

16 February 1998

• Coulthard breaks winter testing record

12 February 1998

• Slow start for Herbert

8 February 1998

• Alesi unable to run in Chamonix

6 February 1998

• Sauber test report

30 January 1998

• Sauber test report.

21 January 1998

• Sauber pin podium hopes on experience