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Sauber win 'very close' - Kaltenborn

Sergio Perez helped Sauber close to within 26 points of Mercedes with his second place at Monza © Sutton Images

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Sauber CEO Monisha Kaltenborn believes the team is "very close" to winning a race this season after Sergio Perez's second place at Monza.

Perez secured his and Sauber's third podium of the season when he climbed up to second late in the race in Italy, eventually finishing just 4.3 seconds behind race-winner Lewis Hamilton. His first podium came in changeable conditions in Malaysia, where one slight mistake cost him a shot at victory, and Kalternborn believes that the C31 is quick enough to deliver victory if all the factors come together once again.

"It's very difficult to say (that we will win), because so many things have to be right to win a race," Kaltenborn said. "I think we are very close to it, and all we can do is just make sure that we don't make mistakes on the track and then I'm sure it will work out.

"I think we've been seeing throughout the season that this car actually is a very good car. And of course when you bring these sorts of results home then it proves it even further, so for us we continue to be convinced that it's a very good car and now we hope that the packages we still have for the overseas races are going to kick in the way we expect them to and then I think we can still keep our level of competitiveness quite high."

Speculation over Perez's future has only been increased by the result, but Kaltenborn remains confident Sauber can retain his services.

"I've always told you we announce for one season and we will in due course announce for the next season. But I'm still relaxed as I was months ago."

Kaltenborn added that she hopes the result convinces potential sponsors to invest because that Sauber will be strong in 2013.

"I think with this podium now it will make a lot of people believe in it that our level is quite good this year, which is also the basis for next year's car. Performance is all what potential sponsors look at and I do hope that this will give us more boost."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.