Sauber C17

The Sauber C17 was the car with which the Sauber Formula One team competed in the 1998 Formula One season. It was driven by Jean Alesi, who joined from Benetton, and Johnny Herbert, who was in his third season with the team after an impressive 1997 season.

Sauber C17
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorSauber
Designer(s)Leo Ress (Technical Director)
Ian Thomson (Head of Chassis Design)
Rene Hilhorst (Head of Aerodynamics)
Mike Jennings (Principal Aerodynamicist)
PredecessorSauber C16
SuccessorSauber C18
Technical specifications
Chassiscarbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)double wishbones, pushrod, inboard spring/damper unit
Suspension (rear)double wishbones, pushrod, inboard spring/damper unit
EnginePetronas SPE01D (Ferrari), 75-degree V10
TransmissionSauber six-speed longitudinal sequential semi-automatic
FuelPetronas
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsRed Bull Sauber Petronas
Notable drivers14. France Jean Alesi
15. United Kingdom Johnny Herbert
Debut1998 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
160100
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

1998 confirmed Sauber's position as a respectable midfield runner unable to make the final breakthrough needed to become a top team. The team's package was quick and reliable, but not quite enough to regularly score points. Indeed, Alesi and Herbert finished just outside the points, in seventh, no less than five times. The highlight of the year was Alesi's run to third at the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix to score the team's fourth podium since their F1 début in 1993. This capped an encouraging season for the Frenchman, who was duly kept on for another year. Herbert, despite a points finish in the first race of the season, lost his motivation after a sequence of bad luck and narrowly missing out on further points. He decided to move to Stewart for 1999, and would be replaced by Pedro Diniz.

The team eventually finished sixth in the Constructors' Championship with ten points. This was their best WCC position so far, but there was still some way to go to take on the likes of Ferrari and McLaren.

It was with this car that the last rounded-shape steering wheel in Formula 1 was used. All steering wheels have been rectangular since then.

For the first few races, X-wings were used, but they were banned after the San Marino Grand Prix.

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 Points WCC
1998 Red Bull Sauber Petronas Petronas V10 G AUS BRA ARG SMR ESP MON CAN FRA GBR AUT GER HUN BEL ITA LUX JPN 10 6th
France Jean Alesi Ret 9 5 6 10 12 Ret 7 Ret Ret 10 7 3 5 10 7
United Kingdom Johnny Herbert 6 11 Ret Ret 7 7 Ret 8 Ret 8 Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret 10

References
  • AUTOCOURSE 1998-99, Henry, Alan (ed.), Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1998) ISBN 1-874557-43-8


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