Sauber calm despite uncertain 2013 lineup

Sep.17 (GMM) Peter Sauber insists he is not worried about the future, despite intense speculation surrounding his Swiss team's 2013 driver lineup.

The impressive Mexican Sergio Perez has been linked with moves to Ferrari or McLaren, while speculation suggests Kamui Kobayashi's place could be in danger due to the well-funded Charles Pic's solid debut for struggling Marussia.

Second place Sergio Perez, Sauber F1 Team celebrates with the team and Peter Sauber, Sauber Team Principal

Photo by: xpb.cc

"It's not for nothing that the Brits call this time of year 'silly season'," Sauber wrote in the Swiss newspaper Blick.

"Journalists' crazy imaginations can tend to run away," he said.

"From our side there is nothing new on the subject. The situation has remained unchanged for weeks, we are not under time pressure and will announce our drivers for 2013 in due course.

"There is no deadline. The fact is, the interest in our team is very big," said Sauber.

Indeed, the Hinwil based camp has been impressive this year with its Ferrari-powered C31; Perez finishing on the podium three times so far.

The usually mid-grid team, meanwhile, has already scored more than double its 2011 points tally.

"Quite a few experts predicted we would suffer a mid-season drop," Sauber explained, "because they assumed that we would be unable to keep up with the rate of development of our competitors.

"Actually, the opposite has happened: we are stronger now than we were at the beginning of the season.

"I am convinced that the clearly upwards trend is no accident, but the direct result of our entire organisation.

"Many experts were surprised when we announced our new structure without a technical director," said Sauber, referring to the departure early this year of James Key.

"I heard more than once that it (having no technical director) is impossible, but our results say otherwise."