Sauber C16

Sauber C16

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Category	Formula One
Constructor	Sauber
Designer(s)	Leo Ress
Predecessor	Sauber C15
Successor	Sauber C17
Technical specifications
Chassis	carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)	double wishbones, pushrod, coil spring/damper
Suspension (rear)	double wishbones, pushrod, coil spring/damper
Engine	Petronas (Ferrari) 75-degree V10
Transmission	Sauber six-speed longitudinal semi-automatic
Fuel	Petronas
Tyres	Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Red Bull Sauber Petronas
Notable drivers	16. Johnny Herbert 17. Nicola Larini 17. Gianni Morbidelli 17. Norberto Fontana
Debut	1997 Australian Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles F.Laps 17 0 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Sauber C16 was the car with which the Sauber Formula One team competed in the 1997 Formula One season. It was initially driven by Johnny Herbert, who was in his second season with the team, and Nicola Larini. Larini's place in the team was secured via an arrangement that gave the team the previous year's Ferrari engines that were used in the F310 that scored three wins in 1996, badged as Petronas in deference to the team's major Malaysian sponsor. This agreement to use Ferrari engines lasted until the team's purchase by BMW for 2006.

However, Larini, Ferrari's test driver, was unhappy with the team's ambience and quit after five Grands Prix. Gianni Morbidelli was brought in as a replacement, but he broke his arm on two separate occasions during the year and had to be replaced by rookie Norberto Fontana whilst he recovered. All three drivers were comprehensively out-performed by Herbert.

Against some expectations, the car was competitive at the beginning of the season, but fell away slightly as the season progressed due to lack of development compared with better-funded rivals. Herbert's impressive season culminated in the team's third-ever podium finish at the 1997 Hungarian Grand Prix (where he also beat both works Ferraris). He scored all but one of the team's tally of points.

The team eventually finished seventh in the Constructors' Championship, with 16 points.

Many years later, some photos were leaked showing a top secret test carried out by Michael Schumacher in the C16 at Ferrari's test track at Fiorano in Italy. The test took place in September 1997 in a de-badged C16.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Points	WCC
1997	Sauber	Petronas V10	G		AUS	BRA	ARG	SMR	MON	ESP	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	AUT	LUX	JPN	EUR	16	7th
				Johnny Herbert	Ret	7	4	Ret	Ret	5	5	8	Ret	Ret	3	4	Ret	8	7	6	8
				Nicola Larini	6	11	Ret	7	Ret
				Gianni Morbidelli						14	10				Ret	9	12	9	9	DNS
				Norberto Fontana								Ret	9	9							14

References

• AUTOCOURSE 1997-98, Henry, Alan (ed.), Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1997) ISBN 1-874557-47-0