Sauber launches 2017 car and revised livery

Sauber has launched its 2017 car – the Ferrari-powered C36 – and a revised livery ahead of pre-season testing next week.

While Williams became the first team to release a rendering of its car on Friday, Sauber’s is the first of the 2017 designs to be seen in the flesh. The new car was launched online on Monday morning and will run during a filming day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this week.

The C36 shows the impact of the new regulations with a wider and angled front wing, lower and swept-back rear wing, while a shark fin is used on the engine cover. The car will be powered by a year-old Ferrari power unit, with Sauber in its last year of its power unit deal before a likely switch to a new supplier.

Technical director Jorg Zander says Sauber has been able to take advantage of a known quantity in terms of the power unit, saying last year’s Ferrari is “a tried and tested system with higher durability to begin with.

"Being able to get started early and defining the engine environment was an advantage because the team was familiar with the engine and the transmission as well as the cooling requirements the engine entailed," Zander added.

The car will be driven by Marcus Ericsson and Mercedes youngster Pascal Wehrlein this season, though Wehrlein will miss at least the first test with a back injury. Ferrari third driver Antonio Giovinazzi is set to replace the German in Barcelona next week.