Formula One boss Peter Sauber is convinced his team can force their way back up the grid this season after he finally snapped up one of the world's top drivers.

Peter Sauber [file/Getty Image]

Sauber reckons Italy's Giancarlo Fisichella will be the catalyst the Swiss-based team needs in a potentially exciting partnership with the raw but fast Brazilian Felipe Massa.

Fisichella, who has joined from Jordan, will on Monday unveil Sauber's 2004 challenger in Salzburg along with Massa who drove for the team in 2002 before testing with Ferrari last season.

"Signing Giancarlo has made an old wish of mine come true," said Sauber, ahead of the unveiling of the C23.

"For me he is one of the top six drivers in the sport. I am convinced he will help us move forward significantly on the Formula 1 grid.

"Felipe's skills, particularly his speed, was clearly evident during his first collaboration with our team.

"The fact that he wasn't fully able to live up to expectations was mainly due to his age at that time. The added year of training with Ferrari will prove to be a big help to both himself and us as a team."

Fisichella, who scored his maiden victory of an 123-race career in Brazil last season, is hoping the move will finally earn him a dream drive with Ferrari. He could test for the team this year as Sauber use Ferrari engines, badged as Petronas.

Sauber unveiled their new Formula One car on Monday, looking to Ferrari's latest engine and design influence to keep them ahead of big budget rivals.

"It is smaller and lighter and I hope also faster," said Peter Sauber of a C23 that the team described as 'pragmatic' in design.

"Our goal for 2004 is to clearly increase our performance," he added.

"How well we'll be able to do this primarily depends on how quickly we can translate the results of our wind tunnel work to the race track.

"With seven works teams supported by global automotive corporations taking part in the series, the competition in Formula One has become tougher than ever."

Sauber finished fourth in the manufacturers' championship in 2001 but dropped to fifth the following year and sixth last season when they fielded the all-German line-up of Nick Heidfeld and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

The team traditionally seem to struggle to develop the car during the season but this year will benefit from a multi-million investment in one of the most technically-advanced wind tunnels in F1.

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