{{Short description|Formula One racing car}} {{No citations|date=November 2018}} {{racing car |Car_name = Sauber C23 |Image = [[File:Sauber usgp 2004.jpg|260px]] |Caption = [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] driving the Sauber C23 at the [[2004 United States Grand Prix]]. |Category = [[Formula One]] |Constructor = [[Sauber]] |Designer = [[Willy Rampf]] {{smaller|(Technical Director)}}<br /> [[Osamu Gato]] {{smaller|(Engine Director)}} <br /> [[Jacky Eeckelaert]] {{smaller|(Engineering Director)}}<br /> [[Christoph Zimmermann (Formula One)|Christoph Zimmermann]] {{smaller|(Head of Composite Design)}}<br /> Matt Cranor {{smaller|(Head of Mechanical Design)}}<br />Ruedi Schorno {{smaller|(Head of Systems Engineering)}}<br />[[Seamus Mullarkey]] {{smaller|(Head of Aerodynamics)}}<br /> [[Dirk de Beer]] {{smaller|(Principal Aerodynamicist)}} |Predecessor = [[Sauber C22]] |Successor = [[Sauber C24]] |Team = [[Sauber]] [[Petronas]] |Drivers = 11. {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Giancarlo Fisichella]]<br />12. {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Felipe Massa]] |Chassis = carbon-fibre [[monocoque]] |Front suspension = Upper and lower [[Double wishbone suspension|wishbones]], inboard springs and dampers actuated by pushrods |Rear suspension = Upper and lower [[Double wishbone suspension|wishbones]], inboard springs and dampers actuated by pushrods |Engine name = [[Sauber Petronas Engineering|Petronas 04A]] ([[Ferrari V10 engine|Ferrari Tipo 053]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlas F1 Magazine: Rear View Mirror |url=https://www.atlasf1.com/2004/aus/preview/mirror.html |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=www.atlasf1.com}}</ref>) |Capacity = 3.0 litre |Configuration = 90 degree V10 |Turbo/NA = [[naturally aspirated]] |Engine position = [[mid-engine]], [[longitudinal engine|longitudinally mounted]] |Gearbox name = [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |Gears = 7-speed longitudinally mounted gearbox |Differential = |Type = AP [[carbon]] clutch |Fuel = [[Petronas]] Primax |Lubricants = [[Petronas]] Syntium |Tyres = [[Bridgestone]] Potenza (January-October 2004) later [[Michelin]] (post-season testings only in November-December 2004) |Debut = [[2004 Australian Grand Prix]] |Last_event = [[2004 Brazilian Grand Prix]] |Races = 18 |Wins = 0 |Cons_champ = 0 |Drivers_champ = 0 |Poles = 0 |Fastest_laps = 0 }} The '''Sauber C23''' was the car with which the [[Sauber]] team competed in the [[2004 Formula One World Championship]].
The car was driven by Italian [[Giancarlo Fisichella]], who joined the team from [[Jordan Grand Prix|Jordan]], and Brazilian [[Felipe Massa]], who had driven for Sauber in 2002 and returned after spending 2003 testing for [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]. Swiss [[Neel Jani]] was the team's test driver.
== Overview == The car was a direct evolution of the [[Sauber C22]]. For this purpose, Ferrari's car from the previous year, the [[Ferrari F2003-GA]], was used as a model. In terms of design, care was taken to make the car lighter and test more than last year's car. For the first time, the Sauber car was equipped with the same Ferrari engine type as Ferrari itself and not, as before, with the respective previous year's engine. The engine was designated the Petronas 04A. The fuel also came from Petronas and the car raced with Bridgestone tyres.
The Sauber C23 was unveiled on January 12 in [[Salzburg]] at [[Hangar-7]], [[Red Bull]]'s owned aircraft hangar, to mark the 10th anniversary of Red Bull's sponsorship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/sauber-launches-c23-in-salzburg/1106042/|title=Sauber launches C23 in Salzburg|website=Motorsport.com|access-date=28 September 2022}}</ref>
==Racing history== [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] scored the most championship points with 22 with a best finish of 4th place at the [[2004 Canadian Grand Prix|Canadian Grand Prix]] while [[Felipe Massa]] scored 12 points also with a best finish of 4th place at the [[2004 Belgian Grand Prix|Belgian Grand Prix]]. The team scored 34 points overall and 6th place in the Constructors' Championship.
==Sponsorship and livery== Sauber went into 2004 with sponsorship continuity. The livery closely resembles [[Sauber]]'s previous car, the [[Sauber C22|C22]] with the removal of computer software company [[Temenos Group|TEMENOS]]. This was the last Sauber car featuring sponsorship from [[Red Bull]], before Red Bull's departure to [[Red Bull Racing]] in {{F1|2005}}. The following season, [[Credit Suisse]] serves as a major sponsor.
A Malaysian flag above the [[Bargeboard (aerodynamics)|bargeboard]] at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
{{Clear}}
==Complete Formula One results== ([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]]) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" ! Year ! Team ! Engine ! Tyres ! Drivers ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! Points ! WCC |- !rowspan="3"| [[2004 Formula One season|2004]] |rowspan="3"| [[Sauber]] [[Petronas]] |rowspan="3"| [[Sauber Petronas Engineering|Petronas]] [[V10 engine|V10]]* |rowspan="3"| {{Bridgestone}} | | [[2004 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]] | [[2004 Malaysian Grand Prix|MAL]] | [[2004 Bahrain Grand Prix|BHR]] | [[2004 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]] | [[2004 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]] | [[2004 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]] | [[2004 European Grand Prix|EUR]] | [[2004 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]] | [[2004 United States Grand Prix|USA]] | [[2004 French Grand Prix|FRA]] | [[2004 British Grand Prix|GBR]] | [[2004 German Grand Prix|GER]] | [[2004 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]] | [[2004 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]] | [[2004 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]] | [[2004 Chinese Grand Prix|CHN]] | [[2004 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]] | [[2004 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]] ! rowspan="3"|34 ! rowspan="3"|6th |- |align="left"| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 10 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 11 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 11 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 7 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 6 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9<sup>†</sup> |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 12 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 6 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 8 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 5 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 8 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 7 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 8 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9 |- |align="left"| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Felipe Massa]] |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 8 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 12 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 10 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 5 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 13 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 13 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 12 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 8 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 8 |} <nowiki>*</nowiki> Denotes [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] engine badged as Petronas.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Sauber C23}} *[https://www.f1network.net/main/s200/st46326.htm Sauber C23 Launch - Photo Gallery] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110717075808/http://www.totalf1.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=703 Sauber C23 Technical Specs]
{{F1 cars 2004}} {{Sauber}} {{F1-stub}}
[[Category:Sauber Formula One cars|C23]] [[Category:2004 Formula One season cars]]