F1: Sauber dealing with 'tough' finance issues

Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn says she is working through a plan to resolve the Formula 1 outfit's latest "tough" financial situation.

Sauber has found itself in the headlines this F1 season more for what is occurring off track than on it, notably as its 2016 car was late making its debut, while employees' salaries have been paid a few days late the past two months.

There has also been speculation about whether the team will make it through the season, but Kaltenborn is adamant that while the situation is far from easy, they are putting up a fight.

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"It's tough like it's been before," Kaltenborn told Autosport. "You can't even compare to the years before because every year has a different challenge – yes, it is about finances, but it's always a bit different.

"This year we could've carried over more [on the car] – but would it have been better? We couldn't, so we had to cope after certain changes like the powertrain, because obviously we wanted the improved powertrain compared to last year.

"So it's a bit of a different challenge, but we are working on getting it right and that is that. It's not easy, it's never been easy, but that doesn't mean you give up."

Kaltenborn (left) does not believe there will be any issues with this month's salary payments, adding: "We should be OK. Even with the other ones we were finally OK, it was just a question of timing.

"They were just slightly late, but we've never had a situation, like others [teams], where we didn't pay them. It was a question of days. No big dramas but, yes, it shouldn't happen.

"You obviously have people who don't understand, but overall the team's strong about this. If it happens we say we're going to resolve it, and we do – and we always have done so far."

Kaltenborn described as "appalling" the made-up stories regarding her absence from the recent Bahrain Grand Prix.

Rumors surfaced in the Sakhir paddock that Kaltenborn opted not to attend as her team was on the brink of financial collapse and was set to miss the following race in China.

"I don't understand what was been triggered simply by the fact I was not there," Kaltenborn said. "Other team principals don't attend, sometimes their deputy principals don't attend, and nobody is bothered.

"It seems to be a kind of hobby for some people who just pick up something and make up a story without any basis and just put it out there. It's actually, I would say, appalling to see what some people like to do. I don't know what they think they get out of this.

"The simple fact is I had meetings which meant I would have spent just one day in Bahrain, so I decided not to go. What nonsense people come up with."

Originally on Autosport.com