Sauber are confident they will overcome their current financial difficulties and are certain they will be on the grid next season.
Rumour had circulated the paddock suggesting the team might not even see out 2013 after they failed to pay suppliers on time, a situation founder Peter Sauber described as “embarrassing”.
It’s likely they will lose their star driver in the way of Nico Hulkenberg, who along with his management, recently terminated his contract with the outfit due to poor performance and non-payment of wages.
He is therefore free to leave when he likes, but has promised to stay until the end of the season. He has been in discussion with Lotus to replace Kimi Raikkonen should the Finn leave.
However a spokesman for the outfit – which has existed since 1993 – says they are confident they will overcome their struggles.
“Sauber has been in Formula One for more than 20 years,” head of Sauber’s media communications Hanspeter Brack told The Associated Press.
“We will overcome this difficult situation, and we will be there in 2014.”
The big question is whether the team will still be called Sauber next year. Between 2006 and 2009 the outfit was renamed BMW-Sauber after the German manufacturer bought an 80% stake in the team before leaving due to poor results.
It’s believed a similar tie-up could be on the cards with an Asian car manufacturer. Meanwhile Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich – who’s football team already has a marketing deal with Sauber – and the Rotenberg family which owner Russia’s SMP bank, are interested in buying the team.
