F1: Will Nasr addition lead to blue, yellow Sauber? We'll find out Friday
Sauber will reportedly swap its white and grey livery for prominent blue and yellow one for the 2015 season.
That is the claim of the Portuguese-language publication Universo, claiming the Swiss team's color choice is in deference to new driver Felipe Nasr's major backer Banco do Brasil.
Whether the report is correct or not, we’ll find out on Friday, Jan. 30, as that is when Sauber will reveal its C34-Ferrari in an online presentation, the team confirmed Tuesday.
Last year, 22-year-old rookie Brazilian and former Williams reserve driver Nasr finished the GP2 season in third place in a striking blue and yellow Banco do Brasil-branded Carlin car (pictured above).
In 2015, Nasr's teammate will be a similarly well-backed Marcus Ericsson, who switches from the ailing backmarker Caterham.
Universo also reported a tale of mere survival for Sauber over the winter, which had momentarily stopped developing the new C34 due to running out of funds.
The publication said the delayed development, with Sauber only receiving its new 2015 engines from Ferrari on Saturday, initially led to speculation that the team may have had to sit out the first winter test at Jerez.
However, Sauber announced on Tuesday that the C34-Ferrari will roll out in Jerez on Sunday, and will be tested by Marcus Ericsson on days one and four, and by Felipe Nasr on days two and three.
"The team had a disappointing 2014, no doubt,” Ericsson was quoted by Speed Week, “but everyone is eager to fight back and show everyone that they can do a good job."
