Mar.30 (GMM) Sauber has revealed it cannot afford to simply jump in and copy Mercedes' innovative W-duct solution, which has emerged as the innovation of the F1 season thus far.
The small Swiss team had close to winning pace in Malaysia last weekend even without the extra straight-line speed that would be provided by a system along the lines of Mercedes' DRS enhancing concept.
Despite their complaints about the legality of the system, there is little doubt the big-budget teams will be working frantically to emulate the Mercedes' concept, which to date has the blessing of the FIA.
According to Germany's
Auto Motor und Sport, however, it will be a different story for the smaller teams.
"If we started now with a blank sheet of paper, we would be ready in two months," said Sauber's chief designer Matt Morris.
"But it would really add up. We have to ask ourselves whether it's worth it for us, or whether we would be better off chasing the laptime with more conventional steps.
"On the other hand the big teams can handle a development like that in parallel to their normal programmes," he added.
Also on the technical front, Auto Motor und Sport
After the last day of testing in Barcelona, detailed photographs emerged of Sebastian Vettel's stricken RB8 that appeared to show a sort of torsion bar inside the damaged front wing.
The report said the torsion bar may be pre-loaded in order to pass the FIA's static load tests, but then bend at speed.
An FIA insider suggested that the system, although permitted in private testing, "would not be allowed" at the actual grands prix.
Sauber has emerged as one of the stronger mid-field teams of the season after Sergio Perez powered to second place in Malaysia.
Subbed by AJN.
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