Sauber C30 Launch

[prisonermonkeys]

The second of today's three launches, the Sauber C30. It's happening in Valencia at 12:00pm local time. There is no live launch.

 

[Ardius]

Doesn't this constitute "making a thread early"? Not that I'm surprised some are being petty about being the first to start a thread.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

No, creating a thread four days in advance would qualify as being early. In the case of the Mercedes thread, there was actual content to discuss because of the teaser image and now the render. But if someone created a thread right now and said "This car launches in four days. Discuss.", then that would qualify as being too early. The C30 will launch in roughly 12 hours.

Anyway, Sauber have actually picked up some sponsors for this year! Mad Croc Energy have renewed their deal to sponsor the team and may have some more prominent branding, whilst Mexican tequila brand José Cuervo - one of the best-selling tequila brands in the world - will feature on the sidepods and nose of the car. There's no word on what, if any, branding Telmex will have, but given that Carlos Slim bought into the team and both Peréz and Esteban Gutiérrez are a part of the Telmex driver program, I'd be very surprised if the company's logo didn't appear on the car. Plus, Telmex's colours are light blue, which will make the car fairly distinctive.

 

[Ardius]

So starting several threads that have nothing yet to discuss is fine yet we can only talk about LMP and GT racing in one thread? Hypocrisy much? Why can't you just let the threads be created naturally? Why not have a singular launch thread if you're so worried about clutter in the forum?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Because I conferred with the other moderators after I merged the Le Mans threads into one, and they said that it's probably better to avoid generalised discussion threads (no, I can't undo it, and no, it's not an excuse to start creating separate threads again - at least, not until I converse with the other moderators). I'm doing exactly that now. I actually did create a general launch thread about this time last year, and it got shut down for the same reasons.

If you wish to continue this discussion, then I suggest you move it to private or visitor messages. That goes for anyone else who wants to talk about it. I'm not trying to stifle discussion, but talking about the reasons behind merging threads or having separate discussions is off-topic.

 

[Ardius]

Anyway, I look forward to seeing Sauber's latest offering...with a better livery this time.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

First picture of the C30.

First reaction: they could have put a lot more effort into the livery.

 

[Lee]

I like the look of the car, seems neat and tidy around the rear with a decent looking front. Livery is a bit pants though, was really expecting Telmex to have a huge presence on it.

 

[Prince.M5]

They sure could've done better but that one looks good too, especially the nose part in the first picture. I like it!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

A few major changes between the C29 and C30:

1) The front end is less angular. The uprights connecting the front wing to the nosecone are now much more conventional.

2) The airbox is now mounted on four uprights, not two. The airbox also connects with the main body work much further back than on the C30.

3) The rear bodywork is much higher (it's actually higher than the rear wheels), and more tapered.

4) The sidepods appear to be modelled on the McLaren MP/4-25.

I like the look of the car, seems neat and tidy around the rear with a decent looking front. Livery is a bit pants though, was really expecting Telmex to have a huge presence on it.

I'm hoping they'll do a Williams and unveil a proper livery ahead of the first race.

 

[Tired Tyres]

I like the look of this livery. It looks nice and clean and not at all busy like some other liveries.

 

[Peter]

Claro? The very same Claro that is trying to break Digicel's mobile phone dominance here in Jamaica, is sponsoring Sauber?


The livery does look a bit blandish, but it looks good enough.

 

[F1 fan]

Nice looking car, but like others I was hoping that with the presence of telmex, more effort was put into the livery. Still nice though. Can't wait for testing to start.

Edit: Would have been nice to see black/white/light blue with a red stripe... Had kind of pictured it in my head.

 

[Wiegert]

I was expecting a more interesting livery than last years car as well, but it actually look alright. At least it isn't as bland as the 2010 car.

 

[Lizard]

Glad to see they have sponsorship this year I felt sorry for them last year.

 

[Pupik]

I hate to say it, but it appears that Sauber needs to hire someone who is in charge of graphic design. The existing sponsors look a little scatter-shot, as if to say "we're still looking for major sponsors".

Or at least make the Cuervo images much larger to piss everyone off when Kobayashi makes his passes on the track.

 

[Harley45]

It looks a bit bland mybe they should've left the Cover on for the Launch

 

[PeterJB]

I think it looks fantastic with all the additional sponsors and the red on the wing!

 

[GM]

It looks like someone has fired a paintball gun full of stickers at the 2010 car

 

[Prince.M5]

I think they should've put the ''Claro'' on the rear wing, with the wing in complete red like on the front wing. The ''Telmex'' on the other hand should replace the Claro on the engine cover. The rest are owkey I think...

 

[Lee]

I guess these launches also confirm the Pirelli logos on the tyres, I much preferred the ones used for the end of season tyre test..

 

[Stevisiov]

I think it looks cool, and it's certainly looking better than last year. The Sauber still has the best looking wheels of all cars on the grid IMO.

 

[Owen.C93]

I particularly like their blown diffuser, not quite R31 levels but an interesting solution nonetheless.

If you wondering what I'm talking about, they have done some great packaging with the gearbox(Ferrari) and angled the exhausts to the middle with some gurney flaps on the central section of the diffuser to increase it's effectiveness. They also blow it through the starter hole which is neat.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Pictures from the shakedown.

 

[Josh__F]

So thats Sauber & Ferrari who've gone for similar square side-pods to McLaren last year

I hope they do well, but if they have the same start to the season as they did last year then they have no hope tbh..

 

[Akmuq]

Meh it looks pretty much the same as last year. This year I think they will be competing with Williams and Force India.
Also I heard that they're new livery was to be blue. Did anyone else hear that?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

No, people just assumed that because Perez and Gutierrez are a part of a driver development program run by Telmex, whose corporate colours are light blue.

 

[RTSolvalou]

It could have been better, but I think it's also important that at least half the grid retain a similar livery to the previous year, viewers who don't follow behind the scenes need some solid ground.
Also, the blue-text Pirellis should look good on this 👍

 

[CarolinaBlue704]

The livery could have been a little more inspiring.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what Kobayashi can do behind the wheel.👍

 

[spyrrari]

Saubers movable rear wing in action!!!




spy.