Bernie Ecclestone has ruled out financial aid for Sauber after the Swiss outfit confirmed it’s struggling to pay suppliers and therefore may not be around next season if investors can’t be found.
Both co-owners Peter Sauber and Monisha Kaltenborn have openly admitted they are desperately seeking investment in the team before switching to plan B, which 69-year-old Sauber said was to sell the team to an interested party – of which Ecclestone believes there will be many, but it doesn’t include himself.
“We have agreements that require us to treat all the teams equally,” Ecclestone told SRF. “They’re a good team and I’m sure there is more than one possible buyer. I don’t want to imagine F1 without Sauber.
“Ideally, they will find new sponsors in the long term, but even companies who are willing to support them in the short term would be fine. The team deserves to be helped. I don’t know exactly what their financial situation is, but I know it’s not as good as it should be.”
It’s believed some of the outfit’s current sponsors have helped by offering short-term loans, but this isn’t a long-term solution to Sauber’s problems.
