Sauber readies much delayed C35 upgrade
Sauber has confirmed it has brought its much delayed upgrade to the Belgian Grand Prix as it looks to make up ground in an increasingly competitive mid-field fight.
The Swiss team has endured a difficult 2016 campaign and is yet to score a point, a struggle compounded by the relative success of Manor Racing, which currently holds the crucial 10th place in the constructors' standings after scoring in Austria.
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Despite this, Sauber - spurred on by having its future secured following a purchase by Longbow Finance - has high hopes for its upgrade package despite financial worries forcing it to revise its original target of introducing it for Spielberg
"I think that the main area is the front part of the car, so nose, front wing, is what comes out as most of, let's say, newly developed," said Felipe Nasr.
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"In Spa it's hard to say [what we will gain] because we're running a medium downforce configuration to exploit the whole package. I won't say a number now, I'll wait for the weekend to see how the handling and balance of the car comes, because I think this is more important than just thinking about the lap time itself.
"If the balance is better for sure, if you bring us better downforce in areas we are looking to find downforce this will be a benefit, but in terms of numbers I wouldn't say more or less.
Admitting the eventual appearance of the upgrade is a boost for the team, Nasr says Sauber is 'on the way up'
"The aim is to fight higher, to possibly move up the grid and we are doing all we can to score that point. I see the team now on the way up, that's all I can say, it's given everybody a different perspective of things, now we can press the button and say what we have, what we can look for, whichever development we have to do, it's much easier to work this way."
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