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Sauber F1 team set to introduce front wing from new concept at Spa

Sauber will finally have a new front wing on its car after Formula 1's summer break, as part of a concept it hopes will provide a boost in performance

In the Hungarian Grand Prix, Sauber trialled a new rear wing that failed to perform as well as had been hoped, but delivered improved numbers one week later at Hockenheim following tweaks.

The rear wing, however, is part of an overall upgrade package for the C35 that includes the new front wing, a floor, and other peripheral parts.

How Sauber was saved from extinction

Following the team's recent takeover by Longbow Finance, and subsequent injection of capital, the front wing that has long been in the pipeline will make its debut at the Belgian GP, along with potentially the floor.

"We knew the new rear wing was not really a standalone part that would give us massive performance, but it now has performed the way we expected it," team principal Monisha Kaltenborn told Autosport.

"But we knew that in itself it would not be a big step, that it has to be seen in combination with all of its bits and pieces - the rear wing is part of a whole concept.

"So we have a front wing coming up at Spa, some further bits and pieces coming, although I'm not sure about the floor, if that will be there at the next race.

"But looking at the entire package I hope more [performance] can come out because that is how the entire concept has been set up."

With Sauber failing to score a point in the first half of the season, and clearly the backmarker at present, the team needs the upgrade to work to try and finish in the top 10 in the constructors' championship.

Manor currently occupies that position, following Pascal Wehrlein's 10th-place finish in Austria.

The positive point for Kaltenborn is that Sauber is again in a position to develop a car, rather than simply racing with a virtually untouched package.

"We have to see how far it really is - it's not going to be a massive step, but it's a positive step, and that's important for the motivation," added Kaltenborn.

"It's important for the things that people have been working on to now be hitting the track and hopefully that it performs in the way you wanted it to.

"It's also important because it shows we can do this as it's something we have worked on and planned for.

"That is part of giving confidence again to the team, that we are implementing what we wanted to all this while.

"We can do it now, and then of course we are focusing on the new car."

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