The Sauber C22 was the car with which the Sauber Petronas team competed in the 2003 Formula One World Championship.
The C22 was driven by Nick Heidfeld, now in his third season with Sauber and was paired with experienced former Williams and Jordan Grand Prix driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who had deputised for Felipe Massa at the 2002 United States Grand Prix.[1] [2] Massa departed the team to join Ferrari as a test driver.[3] Swiss driver Neel Jani was signed as a test driver for the 2003 season helping develop the C22.[4]
The C22 was the third car designed by Willy Rampf for the Sauber team. Initial designs for the C22 were completed as early as May 2002. Emphasis was placed on improved rigidity of parts, reliability and making the car more compact and lighter than in 2001.[5] Sauber would continue their relationship with Ferrari providing V10 power units for the team. Badged as the Petronas 03A, the engine was based on the Ferrari works engine from 2002 that had taken Michael Schumacher to the world championship title.[6] Sauber continued utilising Bridgestone tyres for the C22.[7]
Testing of the car was due to begin with a shakedown at Fiorano Circuit, in January 2003 ahead of the C22 launch, however due to snowy conditions this was abandoned.[8] The C22 was later launched by Sauber on 9 February, 2003 in Hinwil, Switzerland. The launch was accompanied by an acrobatic ice skating display.[9] The team continued testing through January at Barcelona and later two sessions at Valencia, which was received positively despite a power unit failure and challenging weather conditions.[10] [11] As Sauber did not opt into the 2003 Friday test sessions offered by the FIA in exchange for a limited in season private test model, the development of the C22 continued throughout the season at circuits including Silverstone and Jerez.[12] [13] [14] Neel Jani got his first Formula One drive with the C22, supporting aerodynamic development at a test track near Milan, Italy in April.[15] The season started positively for the team and the C22. Frentzen qualified 4th for the 2003 Australian Grand Prix, and would go on to finish in 6th position picking up the first 3 points of the season for Sauber. Further points were scored in Malaysia and Brazil by Heidfeld and Frentzen.
However, as the races progressed unreliability became an issue for the team, as did finishes outside the points. Notably, in Austria, Frentzen could not begin the Grand Prix at all due to a clutch problem.[16] Of the season as a whole, only two retirements were caused by accidents or collisions.[17] One notable accident retirement was at the 2003 Monaco Grand Prix when Frentzen crashed at the swimming pool chicane on Lap 1, officially classified as completing 0 laps.[18]
The season highlight for Sauber and the C22 was the 2003 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis. It was the first occasion that both cars scored points at the same race, and Frentzen finished third - taking the C22 to its only podium finish. This would also be Frentzen's 18th and final F1 podium.[19] [20] [21]
The C22 finished the season with 19 points, and took Sauber to 6th position in the Constructors standings.[22] The C22 would be the final Formula One car driven by Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who retired from the sport to join Opel in DTM.[23] Meanwhile, Nick Heidfeld would leave the team but return when it became BMW Sauber in 2006.[24]
For 2003, Sauber retained lead sponsor Petronas alongside Red Bull.[25] [26] Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) were unveiled as a key sponsor at the launch event in 2003.[27] Credit Suisse, who sponsored the team since 2001, continued their wing branding and announced a renewal for 2004.[28]
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Sauber Petronas | Petronas V10* | AUS | MAL | BRA | SMR | ESP | AUT | MON | CAN | EUR | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | ITA | USA | JPN | 19 | 6th | ||
 Nick Heidfeld | Ret | 8 | Ret | 10 | 10 | Ret | 11 | Ret | 8 | 13 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 9 | ||||||
| Heinz-Harald Frentzen | 6 | 9 | 5 | 11 | Ret | DNS | Ret | Ret | 9 | 12 | 12 | Ret | Ret | 13† | 3 | Ret |
* denotes Ferrari engine badged as Petronas