By Jamie Makin
April 20 2005

The design for the SAUBER PETRONAS C24 began in late spring of 2004 but the decision to switch to Michelin tyres came almost half a year later. As a result, the C24 was essentially designed for Bridgestone tyres using the team's data and experience with the C23. Despite the team's new wind tunnel and supercomputer, the C24 has not brought the team better results on the race track. Now Peter Sauber has admitted that part of the struggles are down to the change in tyre supplier.

"We were blindfolded perhaps at the end of last year, when our lap times of the old car on Michelin tyres ­ both on dry weather and wets ­ were very promising," Peter Sauber told Autosport-Atlas. "But when we went testing with the new car, we realized pretty early that things were not so swell."

"When we changed to Michelin rubber, the C24 was born already. The C24 was designed for Bridgestone rubber, not for Michelin tyres," he admitted.

The team will soon begin work on the C25 but still have sixteen races remaining in 2004 to contest with the C24. Unfortunately, it could turn out to be a long and trying season for the Swiss squad. "We lack the funding," Sauber said when asked if a fix for the C24 was in the pipeline. "We will have a proper Michelin car only in 2006."