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| Sauber F1 team finishes sixth in the Constructor's World Championship after completing its 20th season at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix |
The season finale of the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship in Brazil was a
thriller in which the Sauber F1 Team played various roles. The part of the victim was up
to Sergio Pérez who retired on lap one after an accident which wasn’t his
fault. Kamui Kobayashi showed one more time what a great fighter he is. The Japanese
driver started 14th and finished ninth. In changing weather conditions with light rain
falling twice and, despite pit stop difficulties, he scored two points in
Interlagos.
The Sauber F1 Team has finished what has been its 20th season in Formula One sixth in
the Constructors‘ World Championship. After 20 races in 2012 the team has 126 points
to its tally, while in the previous year the score was 44 points from 19 Grands Prix. In
2012 the team achieved four of its total of 27 podium finishes. Sergio Pérez was
second in Malaysia and Italy and third in Canada. Kamui Kobayashi contributed with his
third place in Japan. In Malaysia even a second win for the fourth oldest F1 team seemed
within reach. With a haul of 20 points at each race, the Grands Prix in Germany and Italy
turned out to be the most beneficial weekends for the squad. In Spa both drivers achieved
their best grid positions with Kamui starting from second and Sergio from fourth.
Nevertheless the Belgian Grand Prix became one of eight races in 2012 that the Sauber F1
Team left empty handed.
Sergio Pérez finished his second Formula One season tenth in the drivers’
championship (66 points). Kamui Kobayashi is 12th at the end of his third full F1 season
(60 points).
Kamui Kobayashi: 9th
Sauber C31-Ferrari (Chassis 04/Ferrari 056)
Start on new hard tyres, after 8 laps change to intermediate tyres, after 18 laps
change to new hard tyres, after 54 laps change to intermediate tyres.
“I had a good start and stayed out of trouble. The beginning of the race was
good. Then the track conditions became tricky with the drizzle and I had contact with Mark
Webber’s car. That was why we had to change the nose cone when I pitted for
intermediate tyres after eight laps. At my second pit stop after 18 laps I changed to hard
slick tyres. For some reason it was a rather long stop, but nevertheless afterwards I was
in sixth again. I think we did my last pit stop one lap too late. The conditions were
right for Intermediates again. However, the weather forecast apparently said something
different and then we also had a problem with the front left. At the end I was much
quicker than Michael (Schumacher) and tried to overtake him, but on the inside it was a
lot wetter than on the racing line and I lost the rear. Overall I think it was a really
good race. I was able to do my own race and fight. I am happy for the team and for myself
that we have scored points in this our last race together. I want to thank Sauber for the
good times we have had and now I will try to find myself a Formula One cockpit for next
year.“
Sergio Pérez: DNF (lap one)
Sauber C31-Ferrari (Chassis 03/Ferrari 056)
Start on new medium tyres.
“I really wanted to finish the season in a different way. It was a great season
with three podiums and I want to thank everyone at Sauber. I wish the team all the best
and will now take on my new challenge. I didn’t really understand what happened
after the start today. I went to the inside to avoid contact with other cars and then
people crashed into me.”
