Sauber will not launch their 2016 car until the second of F1's two winter tests.
A team spokesman confirmed the Swiss team will run last season's C34 car decked in 2016 livery at the opening Barcelona test on February 22-25.
The new C35 will then make its debut at the second four-day test from March 1.
With F1's pre-season programme having been cut from three to two tests for 2016, Sauber will have just four days of running with their latest Ferrari-powered challenger before the season begins in Australia on March 18-20.
Sauber finished eighth out of 10 teams in last year's Constructors' Championship, which represented an improvement of two places on their point-less 2014. Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson again form the team's driver line-up.
The Sauber news comes as 2016's launch schedule begins to take shape.
McLaren have become the first team to formally confirm the date for their new car unveiling, February 21, while Ferrari have indicated they will keep with recent tradition and launch online.
Williams, meanwhile, are set to unveil their new FW38 in the pit lane on the opening morning of the first test.