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 The C20 of Kimi Räikkönen on display at theHangar-7 Museum | |||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Sauber | ||||||||
| Designers | Willy Rampf(Technical Director) Osamu Gato(Engine Director) Leo Ress [ja](Head of R&D) Sergio Rinland(Chief Designer) Ian Thomson(Head of Composite Design) Matt Cranor(Head of Mechanical Design) Seamus Mullarkey(Head of Aerodynamics) Mike Jennings(Chief Aerodynamicist) | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Sauber C19 | ||||||||
| Successor | Sauber C21 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Moulded carbon fibre composite structure | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbones, pushrod | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbones, pushrod | ||||||||
| Engine | Petronas 01A (Ferrari Tipo 049) 3.0 litres 90-degreeV10Normally aspirated mid mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Sauber seven-speed longitudinal automatic sequential | ||||||||
| Fuel | Shell[1] | ||||||||
| Lubricants | Petronas[2] | ||||||||
| Tyres | Bridgestone | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Red BullSauberPetronas | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 16. Nick Heidfeld17.  Kimi Räikkönen | ||||||||
| Debut | 2001 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||
| Last event | 2001 Japanese Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
TheSauber C20 was the car with which theSauber team competed in the2001 Formula One World Championship. It was powered by aPetronas-branded '01A' 3.0-litre V10,[3] supplied byScuderia Ferrari. The C20 was notable not only for its eventual position in the Constructors' World Championship but also for a new type of front suspension mounting: the "twin keel".
The effect of airflow underneath the nose had first become apparent in the early 1990s. By the end of the decade, most teams had settled for a design where both lower front suspension arms were mounted from a single longitudinal "keel" running underneath the nose. For 2001, theFIA introduced a regulation lifting the sides of the front wing by 50mm, in order to reducedownforce and cut cornering speeds.
Sauber had introduced separate pylons for each of the front suspension mounts on their previous car, theC19. For the C20, the area between the front and back mounting points on each side was filled in, creating two longitudinal keels running underneath the sides of the nose.Sergio Rinland designed the car, and then promptly left the team to joinArrows, leaving the C20's development in the hands ofWilly Rampf.[4]
Despite operating on a relatively modest budget, weight saving was a major consideration in the design of the car, and the team spent 35 weeks perfecting the aerodynamic package in the wind tunnel during the design phase.[5]
In contrast to the previous season's experienced pairing ofMika Salo andPedro Diniz,Peter Sauber signed Germany'sNick Heidfeld and Finnish rookieKimi Räikkönen. His lack of experience prompted some drivers andFIA officials, includingMax Mosley, to question the wisdom of this decision. Heidfeld had made his debut withProst Grand Prix in 2000, but Räikkönen was a 21-year-old whose only previous single-seater formula experience amounted to one and a half seasons inBritish Formula Renault from 1999 to 2000, albeit culminating in a title win.[6]
However, the young Finn's performances belied his age and lack of experience, with a point-scoring finish on his debut and a further four points-scoring finishes throughout the year. Heidfeld achieved a podium (one of six in Sauber's history)[7][8] with third place in theBrazilian Grand Prix and scored points on six other occasions.[9]
The C20 turned out to be one of Sauber's most competitive chassis, providing the team with a points total of 21 and fourth place in the Constructors' World Championship standings.[10]
The C20 achieved 11 points finishes and 10 non-scoring finishes from 33 starts.[11]
As with all Sauber models between 1995 and 2003, the choice of paint color was based on the colors of the main sponsors. Most of the chassis was in the blue of the beverage manufacturerRed Bull, the sides were painted inPetronas cyan. In addition to the two previous main sponsors, the Swiss bankCredit Suisse also came to the fore as a new sponsor. For this reason, the vehicle nose was painted white for the first time.
(key) (results inbold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Red BullSauberPetronas | PetronasV10* | B | AUS | MAL | BRA | SMR | ESP | AUT | MON | CAN | EUR | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | USA | JPN | 21 | 4th | |
| Nick Heidfeld | 4 | Ret | 3 | 7 | 6 | 9 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 6 | 6 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 11 | 6 | 9 | ||||||
| Kimi Räikkönen | 6 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 8 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 5 | Ret | 7 | DNS | 7 | Ret | Ret | ||||||
| Sources:[12][13] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
* DenotesFerrari-built engines, badged asPetronas[5]
