 Nico Hülkenberg driving the C32 at theMalaysian Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Sauber | ||||||||||
| Designers | Matt Morris(Chief Designer)[1] Pierre Waché(Head of Vehicle Performance) Willem Toet(Head of Aerodynamics) Seamus Mullarkey(Head of Aerodynamic Research) Mariano Alperin(Head of Aerodynamic Development) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | Sauber C31 | ||||||||||
| Successor | Sauber C33 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications[2] | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Mouldedcarbon fibre composite monocoque incorporating front and side impact structures | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers actuated by pushrods | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers actuated by pullrods | ||||||||||
| Engine | Ferrari Type 056 2.4 L (146 cu in)V8 (90°).Naturally aspirated, 18,000 RPM limited withKERS,mid-mounted. | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Ferrari 7-speed quick-shift carbon gearbox, longitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch | ||||||||||
| Weight | 642 kg (1,415 lb)(including driver)[3] | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Pirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)[4] | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Sauber F1 Team | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 11. Nico Hülkenberg[5]12.  Esteban Gutiérrez[6] | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2013 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
TheSauber C32[7] was aFormula Oneracing car designed and built by theSauber team for use in the2013 Formula One World Championship. It was driven by MexicanEsteban Gutiérrez, making his Formula One debut, and GermanNico Hülkenberg,[5][6] who joined the team fromForce India. The car was launched on 2 February 2013.[8]
The C32 was designed byMatt Morris,Pierre Waché andWillem Toet with the car being powered by a customerFerrari engine. It features distinct narrow sidepods which, according to designerMatt Morris, were inspired by former driverSergio Pérez's crash at the2011 Monaco Grand Prix.[1] Pérez hit the barrier at the Nouvelle Chicane side-on, crushing the right-hand sidepod, which led to the team investigating whether it would be possible to incorporate narrow sidepods into a future design. This proved to be much harder than first anticipated, as the internal workings of the car had to be completely reconfigured to accommodate the slimmer design.[1]
In comparison to its predecessor, theSauber C31, the C32 features a lower nose design.[9] The stepped nose concept used throughout2012 was abandoned, and the nose was modeled to give it smooth profile. The air vent positioned forward of the cockpit in 2012 was retained.
In his first race for Sauber, theAustralian Grand Prix, Hülkenberg qualified in eleventh position but could not take the start due to a leak in his C32's fuel system.[10] Esteban Gutiérrez, in his first career Grand Prix, qualified in 18th place and finished in 13th position, the highest-placed rookie.[11] Hülkenberg achieved the team's first points of the season at theMalaysian Grand Prix, as he finished the race eighth, while Gutiérrez finished outside of the points in twelfth.[12]
In the fifth race of the year, theSpanish Grand Prix, both drivers progressed into Q2. Hülkenberg started from 15th on the grid and finished in the same position, while Gutiérrez qualified 16th, but a penalty demoted him to 19th on the grid and he finished the race in eleventh place, but the Mexican recorded thefastest lap with a time of 1:26.217 and a speed average of 194.370km/h (120.776mph).[13]
InCanada, both cars retired due to accidents, but Gutiérrez was classified 20th for having completing 90% of the race distance. Hülkenberg finished 10th in each of the next 2 races while Gutiérrez finished 14th. The next two races, theHungarian andBelgian Grands Prix, saw the team record consecutive failures to score. However, in theItalian Grand Prix, Hülkenberg achieved a sensational third place in qualifying, and finished the race in a good fifth position. This was the best result for Hülkenberg since moving to the Sauber team at the beginning of the 2013 season, and the best result of a Sauber sinceKamui Kobayashi's one and only podium finish, third place in the2012 Japanese Grand Prix. Before it became better inKorea with 4th place while Gutiérrez equalled his best result with 11th after qualifying 7th and 8th respectively, before the next race saw both drivers finishing in the points with 6th and 7th places, but then the points-streak ended thanks to Hülkenberg's brake failure and Gutiérrez's drive-through for jumping the start. Hülkenberg ended the year with two more points finishes while Gutiérrez's seventh place inJapan ended up being the only points he scored all year.[14]
Overall, Sauber finished 7th in the championship with 57 points, 50 of these coming in the second part of the season, a worse record than previous year's C31, which finished 6th with 126 points and 4 podiums.[15]
The C32 underwent a radical livery changes, the white base was switched to a grey colour scheme with a black, red and white accents on the sides. Renewed sponsors includingClaro,Telcel,Telmex,Oerlikon,NEC andCertina.Chelsea FC returned for the second year with the team.
In 2018, the C32 was used during the presentation of theC37. Later in the same year, the C32 was driven byMarcus Ericsson andCharles Leclerc during the Milano Festival.
Gabriel Bortoleto drove the C32 (sporting the livery of the 2025C45) at the 2025Goodwood Festival of Speed.
(key) (results inbold indicate pole position; results initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | Grands Prix | Points | WCC | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | MAL | CHN | BHR | ESP | MON | CAN | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | SIN | KOR | JPN | IND | ABU | USA | BRA | |||||||
| 2013 | Sauber F1 Team | Ferrari Type 056 | P | Nico Hülkenberg | DNS | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 11 | Ret | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 19† | 14 | 6 | 8 | 57 | 7th |
| Esteban Gutiérrez | 13 | 12 | Ret | 18 | 11 | 13 | 20† | 14 | 14 | Ret | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | ||||||
† Driver failed to finish the race, but was classified as they had completed greater than 90% of the race distance.
