Sauber plans major staff expansion

Sauber is planning on expanding its team by 33 percent in the near future, according to new technical director Simone Resta.

After years of struggle, Sauber changed ownership in 2016 and then received a major investment from Alfa Romeo through which the car manufacturer become title sponsor of the team. Armed with greater resources, Sauber has been on a recruitment drive, and Resta says the expansion shows no signs of slowing down as the team continues targeting a rise to the front of the midfield.

“The plans are to increase further,” Resta said. “Currently, in terms of size of the team and number of employees, we are over 400 and we the plan is to increase it by a third. We need to keep growing to increase and also with more manpower.

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“Without doubt we are not where we want to be, so we need to improve and we need to change things. It is a bit early to pinpoint the exact areas we need to work on, but as it has been [four] weeks it will be not fair to understand all the areas we need to modify. But without doubt we need to change things and improve.”

Sauber is currently ninth in the constructors’ championship with 18 points, more than it managed in each of the last two years combined. However it is ten points adrift of Toro Rosso in eighth, while McLaren in seventh is 34 points ahead.

Having only joined from Ferrari at the start of July, Resta says he will take his time before working out where he believes those changes are needed as he looks to continue Sauber’s forward momentum.

“Every place is different and every place needs something different and I hope with my experience I can contribute to the team and I am still learning the environment, the colleagues and the processes. I’ve been there … a very short time. Nevertheless, I am applying to do my best, to look forward and go forward with the team.

“The objectives are challenging as you would always like to be a points finisher and to do another step compared to so far this year. Now we are stable in the midfield.”