Sauber's future now 'brighter'

The Swiss-based squad has faced financial difficulties this year, and Kaltenborn has been working hard on trying to find fresh investment that will secure its long-term future.

Amid talk of a solution being on the horizon, Zehnder said on Friday that the recent payment of outstanding salaries has given the firmest indication yet that proper progress has been made.

"Paying salaries definitely helps for the atmosphere in the team," he explained. "Paying the salaries, the outstanding salaries, is part of a comprehensive solution we were still working on but for any details you have to ask Monisha.

"Obviously there is a change in atmosphere because now everyone believes again that there is a future.

"The crucial thing so far was not to give up and I think we can be very proud of our team here on the track and at home that kept on pushing in our very limited areas.

"There was always light at the end of the tunnel – but as you know Switzerland has just opened the longest railway tunnel in the world – the light was always there, the tunnel was just massively long.

"The tunnel is getting shorter now."

Upgrades planned

The easing of the team's financial situation also means that a current block on funding upgrades is at an end, with new parts now set to come through the system.

"We have some bits and pieces coming for Silverstone and then Hockenheim possibly but then the concentration is fully on 2017," he said.

"We still have the aim to be in front of the Manors and possibly beat the Renaults but realistically, we have to concentrate, as a small team, fully for 2017."

He added: "For the technical department, for the design office, sometimes it is quite frustrating, knowing you have things in the pipeline but you cannot bring it to the track because of financial reasons. But, as I say, there should be a brighter future."