By Jamie Makin
January 20 2005

A new rule in 2004 offered teams below 4th place in the Constructors Championship the opportunity to run a third car for the two Friday practice sessions at each Grand Prix weekend. While rivals BAR Honda, Jaguar, Toyota, Jordan and Minardi saw this as a means to better their team, SAUBER declined the offer. It now appears they will once again miss out on it this year due to lack of funding.

The small Swiss squad is know for keeping a tight reign on their finances. The recent investment in their new wind tunnel and the loss of Red Bull as a primary sponsor have left SAUBER without the financial means to run a third car. Additionally, the team would realize no benefit from a third car without a skilled driver behind the wheel. The team does not currently employ a dedicated test driver. "I could only change my mind if a massively talented and equally massively rich driver knocks on our door," stated Peter Sauber, "something I do not expect to happen."

This is clearly a missed opportunity for the small team to move ahead. The recently unveiled C24 looks to be quite a contender but if the team does not find the funding to properly develop it they will not likely realize its full potential. The gap to the top could be further widened as McLaren Mercedes now has the chance to run a third car due to poor performance last season and are likely to regain their competitive form.

SAUBER does continue to seek additional sponsorship and hopes to fill the blank engine cover spot before the start of the season.

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