Satisfied Sauber defends team

Speaking ahead of this weekend's French Grand Prix, the Swiss team boss says he is happy with the way his team has performed this year lying as it does in sixth place just two points behind McLaren.

"I think that, all things considered, we can be highly satisfied with the results of the first nine races," he said. "We've scored 15 Championship points - clearly more than at the same time last year - and are now ranking sixth in the Constructors' Championship. We're only two points behind McLaren-Mercedes, but clearly ahead of Toyota, Jordan, Jaguar and Minardi."

The team's new wind tunnel only became fully operational in March this year with significant changes to the car arriving at the San Marino GP, four races into the season. Since then Sauber believes the team has steadily improved with more to come.

"We knew that the new wind tunnel would not be operational until March and set the goal of using new aerodynamic components at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola at the end of April," he said. "We achieved this goal, and the effects were immediately visible. Since then, we've been able to make continuous progress with the aerodynamic development of the C23, and this has clearly improved our performance.

"As it looks right now, we'll be using a new front wing at Magny-Cours and, only a week later at Silverstone, a new engine cover."

Sauber believes that it is the aero improvements that hold the key to further progress and has attacked those who feel Ferrari should not have such a performance gap considering it uses the same engine and gearbox as the Sauber and also looks remarkably similar to the C23.

"Let's face it, the car's performance is not primarily attributable to the engine and gearbox," he said. "The most critical factor is aerodynamics, and in this respect we're just at the beginning of our development. What's more, Ferrari have completely different resources at their disposal and, above all, they've got Michael Schumacher. Michael is a driver with exceptional skills, and this year, I think, he's even better than he's ever been."

"Perhaps, the question of why Ferrari are so far ahead of everyone else should be posed to those teams having entered this season with the goal of winning the World Championship."