Australia Crashes Hit Sauber Hard, Says Boss

The Australian Grand Prix was an expensive 'disaster' for the Sauber team and the 2002 Formula One season is already looking tougher than last year, according to Peter Sauber.

The Swiss team boss, speaking at a Malaysian Grand Prix news conference, said on Thursday that the March 3 season-opener had imposed a heavy burden on Sauber with both their cars caught in a first lap pile-up in Melbourne.

"For a small team it is very difficult to have this big accident at the beginning of a season, not only in costs but in spare parts also," he said. "We had two accidents in (final) testing at Mugello also before the start of the season.

"(Melbourne) was a disaster for us. After 20 seconds, both cars were damaged. But I think the performance was okay, during testing and qualifying we did better than the year before."

Sauber's technical director Willi Rampf was quoted in an International Automobile Federation (FIA) report last week as saying that the crash damage in Australia was put at 600,000 euros ($524,500).

Suspension, radiators and wings all needed replacing and the factory at Hinwil was already under huge pressure to build replacement parts after the Mugello accidents shortly before the cars were due to be shipped to Australia.

Ferrari-engined Sauber finished fourth overall last season, their best ever performance, but this year face a tough task with resurgent Renault setting their sights on a top four place. Champions Ferrari are expected to battle McLaren, who signed Sauber's young Finn Kimi Raikkonen at the end of last season, and Williams for the title.

"It is very, very difficult to keep onto fourth place," warned Sauber. "I think that it's more difficult this year than last year."