Sauber team principal Fred Vasseur believes the similarities between the Swiss outfit and Force India provides optimism that a turnaround in performance is possible.
Financial issues in recent years have meant the Hinwil-based team has languished towards the back of the grid, scoring just seven points in the last two years while Force India has gone from strength to strength, finishing as top midfield runner twice over the same period.
Now in the process of rebuilding after a takeover in mid-2016, Sauber is hoping to make strong progress this season thanks to a renewed Ferrari relationship and eventually matching Force India as another independent squad pushing above their weight.
“Force India is a good model because they are working with Mercedes more or less as we are working with Ferrari,” Vasseur told Autosport with another Fiat-owned brand in Alfa Romeo starting a technical partnership.
“They are working with drivers, they are working on collaborations, working on the engine and some other parts and it is more or less the same size as Sauber.
“It is a good example of what we could achieve and what could be the project,” the Frenchman stated.
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While Sauber has the experience of 25 years in Formula 1 to draw on to help move up the grid, Vasseur doesn’t expect a rapid return to the type of results Sergio Perez in 2012 and Nico Hulkenberg in 2013 were producing.
“They had a long-term project, something serious, and year after year they came back onto the pace and now they are quite consistent,” he explained, continuing the Force India comparison.
“We have to take things the same way. We have to be patient. It is a three-to-five year project.”
As for expectations for 2018, it is simply about getting back into the midfield mix and taking advantage of opportunities that arise.
“We have to be able to fight with the guys around us,” the team boss declared. “I think we will be able to close the gap.
“It is difficult to know if we will fight for P8, P9 or P10. More will be difficult but it will depend also on the other teams and their projects.”
