The situation was bleak. Very bleak. It had been nearly a month and Sauber's staff had not received their wages for May. This came after three successive months of being paid at least a week late. Understandably, there was growing uncertainty among staff. They had bills to pay, families to feed. An emergency fund existed for such a situation, helping staff financially in the interim. But the pressure and stress remained.
Then last week, a sense of relief swept through the corridors of Hinwil as the news its staff had been waiting to hear arrived. Stood side-by-side, owner Peter Sauber and team boss Monisha Kaltenborn revealed the Swiss team had changed ownership, with a financial investment firm taking over. Sauber declared the future of the outfit was now secure.
But how did it get to this stage in the first place?