2014 Sauber passes FIA crash tests

(GMM) Sauber has hit back at speculation about its future by revealing it is well on track to debuting an all-new 2014 car.

Having lost the talented Nico Hulkenberg to his former team Force India, Hinwil based Sauber – after its financially-embattled 2013 – is now only in the company of Caterham with its two vacant race seats for next season.

"Never in Sauber's 21-year grand prix history has not even one of its drivers for the following season been known by this time," the respected Swiss correspondent for the well-connected Blick newspaper, Roger Benoit, said.

On Wednesday, however, Sauber beat the other teams to an important piece of news about 2014, revealing that the FIA's mandatory static and dynamic tests have all been passed by the new C33 chassis.

The 2014 car is therefore "officially homologated", Sauber announced via Twitter on Wednesday.

Sauber added: "The rear crash test, which is not part of the chassis homologation, will take place separately at a later date, as usual."