By Jamie Makin
October 14 2004

With just one race left in the 2004 Formula One season, team SAUBER PETRONAS has already secured 6th place in the Constructors Championship. Their 33 points give them a position unbeatable by rivals Jaguar or Toyota, who have 10 and 9 points respectively. There is no chance to gain position either, as McLaren is well ahead of them with 61 points. A maximum of 18 points are available to a constructor on any given grand prix weekend.

This year's result may equal last year's and does not tell the whole tale of the improvement the team has undergone this season. Last year's sixth place (19 points) was locked up with a somewhat fortuitous 3rd and 5th place finish in a rain-soaked United States Grand prix. Had it not been for that race, the team would likely have sunk to 9th behind Jordan Ford.

This year's 6th place was earned though a season of hard work and improvements made after the team's new wind tunnel came online. It has also been the team's most reliable season to date. The C23 has had only 6 DNF's in 34 starts and only half of those DNF's were a result of mechanical failure. Fisichella and Massa earned 13 points-paying finishes throughout the year with each driver having finished as high as 4th place.

SAUBER had anticipated it to be very difficult to score points at all this season with so many competitive manufacturer teams and unprecedented reliability from them. Fortunately the small Swiss team has once again been able to rise to the occasion and give the big boys a reason to watch their mirrors nervously.

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