Sauber C15

Sauber C15

Heinz-Harald Frentzen driving the C15 at the 1996 San Marino Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Sauber
Designers	Leo Ress (Technical Director) Ian Thomson (Head of Chassis Design) Rene Hilhorst (Head of Aerodynamics) Mike Jennings (Chief Aerodynamicist) Martin Walters (Chief Engine Designer, Ford Cosworth)
Predecessor	Sauber C14
Successor	Sauber C16
Technical specifications
Chassis	carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)	double wishbones, combined spring/damper units, pushrod
Suspension (rear)	double wishbones, combined spring/damper units, pushrod
Engine	Ford JD Zetec-R, 72° V10, NA
Transmission	Sauber/Xtrac six-speed longitudinal semi-automatic
Power	670 hp (499.6 kW) @ 15,800 rpm
Fuel	Castrol [note 1]
Tyres	Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Red Bull Sauber Ford
Notable drivers	14. Johnny Herbert 15. Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Debut	1996 Australian Grand Prix
Last event	1996 Japanese Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 16 0 1 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Sauber C15 was the car with which the Sauber team competed in the 1996 Formula One World Championship. It was powered by the Ford Zetec-R V10 engine and driven by German Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who was in his third season with the team, and Briton Johnny Herbert, who moved from Benetton.

Overview

After an encouraging performance in 1995 with a full-works Ford V8 engine, 1996 did not confirm the progress Sauber had made during 1995 because as the team developed the troublesome Zetec-R V10, problems with the new unit's power delivery resulted in the team scoring only 11 points, despite the theoretical power advantage over a V8. That score, compared to its 1995 tally of 18 points was fairly little bearing in mind that in 1995 Sauber had a significant performance difference between Heinz-Harald Frentzen and his respective team-mate (Karl Wendlinger in the first four and the last two races of 1995, and Jean-Christophe Boullion during the rest of that season) while that was not the case in 1996.

The drivers proved well-matched, with Frentzen having a slight edge over Herbert. However, the German left the team at the end of the year to join champions Williams for 1997. The team's second podium finish since its F1 début in 1993 was scored by Herbert at the chaotic 1996 Monaco Grand Prix, with Frentzen in fourth. Heinz-Harald scored further points at Catalunya and Suzuka.

The team eventually finished seventh in the Constructors' Championship, with 11 points.

Livery

The C15 features a brighter shade of blue livery with a teal dash pattern on the side of the car; as the team now utilized Petronas fuels and lubricants.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points	WCC
1996	Red Bull Sauber Ford	Ford V10	G		AUS	BRA	ARG	EUR	SMR	MON	ESP	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	JPN	11	7th
				Johnny Herbert	DNS	Ret	9	7	Ret	3	Ret	7	DSQ	9	Ret	Ret	Ret	9	8	10
				Heinz-Harald Frentzen	8	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	4	4	Ret	Ret	8	8	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	6

References

• Henry, Alan, ed. (1996). AUTOCOURSE 1996-97. Hazleton Publishing. pp. 80–82. ISBN   1-874557-91-8.

Notes

1. Petronas branding appeared on C14, but the car used Castrol fuels and lubricants.