International group & Ericsson backers behind Sauber rescue (2nd Update)
That is the claim of the respected Brazilian journalist Livio Oricchio, amid reports the Swiss team might be mere days from making an official announcement.
In April, it emerged that Sauber was only able to make the trip to Shanghai for the Chinese grand prix due to a bail-out by individuals connected with Tetra Pak, a packaging company, and other Ericsson backers.
Those rumors were denied, but now Sauber's 300 staff at Hinwil have been suddenly paid and the Tetra Pak rumors are back.
At any rate, Swede Ericsson's teammate Felipe Nasr said the latest developments are good news.
"The atmosphere in Sauber has changed," he said.
Nasr hopes the next step is that Sauber's car will be upgraded shortly, after Manor's point in Austria leaves the Swiss team dead last in the championship.
"We have a new aero package," said Nasr. "We don't know yet if we can try it at the Silverstone tests."
07/02/16 (GMM) Sauber is closing on a deal to bail the Swiss team out of its perilous financial situation.
This week, it emerged that unpaid employee salaries for May and June had suddenly been paid, amid reports an international investment group is about to buy Sauber.
"Obviously there is a change in atmosphere because now everyone believes again that there is a future," team manager Beat Zehnder said in Austria.
The deal could be so far advanced that an "official announcement" could be just days away, a Sauber team spokesman said at the Red Bull Ring.
"In the next two weeks we hope to make an official announcement of great importance to the team," spokesman Robert Hopoltseder told Brazil's Globo.
07/01/16
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| Monisha Kaltenborn finds buyers for Sauber? |
(GMM) Sauber is rumored to be on the cusp of being sold.
We reported earlier that amid a troubled campaign for the financially struggling Swiss team, the 300 staff at Hinwil have now been paid for May and June.
"We are in the process of a comprehensive solution," confirmed team boss and co-owner Monisha Kaltenborn, speaking to Blick newspaper.
Team driver Felipe Nasr, who was believed to be losing patience with Sauber and could be looking to take his major backer Banco do Brasil elsewhere, welcomed the news.
"I'm still fully committed to the team I'm pretty sure," he said in Austria.
"The situation seems to have got better from what I hear. Getting all the salaries paid gives a boost to everyone back at the factory, at the track. I'm sure we can soon start updating the car," Nasr added.
It is believed that, earlier this week, Sauber staff were told at the team's Swiss base that their newly-paid salaries are part of a rescue plan for the team.
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport claims the plan comes in the form of an international group of investors who will buy a majority stake in Sauber, writing off debts and committing for the future.
The report said the new owners intend to keep Sauber's existing management throughout a transitional phase.