Jonathon Wheatley, Sauber F1’s smiley silver fox and team principal, must be heading into Formula One’s summer break with more of a spring in his step – or at least some confidence.

We suppose the most measured thing we can say is that buyers of 870bhp supercars with tandem seating and F1-style suspension aren’t really in the business of being wallflowers, are they? Technically, ...