Sauber, F1 constructor

The Hinwil-based squad announced last year that it would become the Audi works team in 2026 when new engine regulations come into play.With its current title sponsorship with Alfa Romeo coming to an end this year, it will have a new naming partner and is expected to change to the Sauber brand for 2024 as it continues its long-term project.But while the blank sheet for next year could give it an ...

read on

The German manufacturer announced last year that it had agreed to a takeover of the Sauber outfit for its official entry as a manufacturer squad in 2026.Since then, however, it has stayed out of the public spotlight and not revealed much about its progress. This approach has led to some questions about Audi’s commitment. Earlier this year there was speculation that the manufacturer was behind ...

read on

The Swiss outfit, which is set to revert to the Sauber name for two seasons before formally becoming Audi in 2026, is undergoing a major expansion under CEO Andreas Seidl.Former McLaren technical director Key started work on 1 September, and attended the Japanese GP in order to get an overview of race weekend operations.Meanwhile erstwhile head of trackside engineering Xevi Pujolar has been given ...

read on

Had Nick Heidfeld’s career path gone as expected then he would never have spent the 2002 Formula 1 season at Sauber with Felipe Massa. The long-time Mercedes protege had won the German Formula 3 and International Formula 3000 titles in McLaren liveries, set the Goodwood hillclimb record in a 1998 MP4/13 and raced at Le Mans in the ill-fated CLR on what appeared a predestined path to becoming an ...

read on

The Italian GP was the last home race for the Milanese marque as its six-year relationship with Sauber approaches its conclusion.The occasion was celebrated with a special livery featuring the Italian flag, while Alfa also used the weekend to unveil the impressive new 33 Stradale, a model that reflects the sporty image that its involvement in Grand Prix racing is supposed to project.The problem ...

read on

After leaving Mercedes at the end of 2021, Bottas has been enjoying the relaxed atmosphere at what is currently the Alfa Romeo team.Last weekend, during the summer break, Bottas competed in a cycling event in Colorado dressed as Simpson's character Duff Man - for which he won the best costume award, winning his weight in beer and subsequently donating it to spectators and competitors.The Finn ...

read on

This weekend's Belgian Grand Prix marks a year since Audi formally announced its 2026 F1 entry initially via a works powertrain programme before confirming a Sauber buyout.But Audi has since moved to replace CEO Markus Duesmann, who presided over the entry.There is also widespread speculation that the manufacturer's engine programme is running months behind schedule. Audi did announce in June that ...

read on

The team is operating under Alfa Romeo badging for one final season in 2023, and is set to revert to a Sauber chassis name for two years before Audi’s official arrival in the series.
Seidl says he wants Sauber to raise its level of competitiveness on track and at the same time become more attractive to drivers, staff members, sponsors and fans.
“Every area of the group is growing, and we ...

read on

Former McLaren team principal Seidl has replaced Fred Vasseur, who has left to replace Mattia Binotto at Ferrari.
Seidl has come in solely as CEO in order to focus on the bigger picture of all the companies in the Sauber Group as the organisation continues to grow ahead of the planned transition to the full Audi identity in 2026, and as such he won't attend all the races.
Managing director ...

read on

Audi announced in August last year that it will be entering F1 in works capacity on the advent of new engine regulations in 2026, amid a boom in the sport’s popularity across the world.
This was followed by the news in October that Sauber, which currently operates as Alfa Romeo Racing, will become its “strategic partner”, and use its Hinwil facility to build the chassis.
At that time ...

read on

Following months of speculation, it was announced shortly before the recent Mexican Grand Prix that Audi had chosen Sauber as its partner for when the German car manufacturer enters F1's new engine rules era.
Sauber has had works partnerships in the past ? most famously with BMW from 2006 to 2009 ? and current team principal Vasseur thinks Audi's offerings will help the operation make big ...

read on

Last month, Audi officially confirmed it would join forces with Sauber as its power unit manufacturer in 2026, when a new engine formula will kick in.
After Alfa Romeo's sponsorship deal with the Hinwil team lapses at the end of 2023, it is expected Audi will gradually start ramping up its involvement as it becomes a shareholder in the Swiss outfit.
For current Alfa Romeo driver Bottas ...

read on

Audi announced its entry on the weekend of the Belgian GP in August, but it declined to name its partner team, despite it being clear for some months that Sauber had landed the deal.
Sauber has also confirmed that Audi will buy a stake in the company, although no details on the timing of the purchase or the size of the shareholding have been given.
Sauber noted: ?This partnership will ...

read on

Audi confirmed on Friday in Belgium that it would be entering F1 as a power unit manufacturer from 2026 after the next generation of rules were approved over the summer break. 
It is understood that Audi has settled on Sauber - which currently operates the Alfa Romeo team - as its preferred partner, but Audi bosses said on Friday it was yet to make a final decision. Any deal is been ...

read on

Audi has today announced in a press conference at Spa that it will enter F1 as a powertrain manufacturer from the start of the new-for-2026 engine rules cycle, whereby the MGU-H will be eliminated, and fully sustainable fuel adopted.
Although official confirmation is still pending, it is widely expected that Audi will enter in collaboration with Sauber and that the cars' chassis will be built ...

read on

Just hours after German car manufacturer Audi confirmed its plans to enter F1 as an engine manufacturer from 2026, with a likely buy-in of Sauber, Alfa Romeo announced its exit.
Having only just reconfirmed an extension of its deal to be title sponsor of Sauber for 2023, with the tie-up having originally started in 2018, Alfa Romeo said it would part with the team at the end of next ...

read on

The Volkswagen Group has given initial approval for its Porsche and Audi brands to enter F1 from 2026, with a final announcement expected soon now that the engine regulations have been ratified.
While Porsche is set to take a 50% stake in Red Bull's F1 team, Sauber - which operates Alfa Romeo's F1 squad - has been tipped as the most likely outfit to work with Audi. It currently has a long-term ...

read on

The Alfa Romeo name returned to F1 in 2019 as part of a new partnership with the Sauber squad that saw it take over the title sponsorship, as well as enjoying technical crossover as part of an extended partnership.
While a long-term agreement has always been in place between the two parties, this has been subject to annual reviews that typically take place during the summer.
According to ...

read on

Audi is set to enter F1 from 2026 after the Volkswagen Group special advisory board gave the green light for plans for it and sister brand Porsche to join the grid.
Porsche is poised to link up with Red Bull through a new works partnership, but Audi?s future F1 plans are less clear as it explores various options.
The Ingolstadt marque has been linked with possible takeovers or partnerships ...

read on

Lawyer Alunni Bravi has been involved with the team as its general counsel and as a board member since 2017.
The Italian is also well known in the F1 paddock as the manager of former McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne, who is currently racing for Mercedes in Formula E, while he has also worked with current Alfa reserve driver Robert Kubica.
Previously he operated alongside Nicolas Todt at All ...

read on

Picci has been an important figure at Sauber over recent years, having played a key role in saving the team in 2016 when it was sold to investors Longbow Finance.
He stayed on board as chairman of Sauber holdings to work closely with the Islero Investments consortium of entrepreneurs that were headed by Finn Rausing, as it rebranded under the Alfa Romeo moniker.
But ahead of the Mexican GP ...

read on

The arrangement began as straight title sponsorship in 2018, and for the last three years the team has been badged as Alfa Romeo.
Negotiations regarding a renewal of the deal had been ongoing for several months, and the new regulations that come into force next season helped to encourage Alfa to remain in the sport.
Confirmation means that the team will continue to employ at least one driver ...

read on

Correa first linked up with Sauber?s junior programme at the start of 2019, serving as the Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team?s development driver alongside his Formula 2 racing duties.
But Correa?s career was put on hold after sustaining severe injuries in the second-lap accident at Spa that claimed the life of Anthoine Hubert.
After completing extensive rehabilitation, Correa made his racing ...

read on

Alfa Romeo first linked up with Sauber in 2018 as a title sponsor before an expansion of the partnership saw the team become known as Alfa Romeo Racing from 2019 onwards.
Sauber announced last October that it had extended its agreement with Alfa Romeo for a further season, but team boss Frederic Vasseur is hopeful of continuing the partnership long-term.
Talks are ongoing with the ...

read on

Rossi flirted with an F1 switch through the mid-late 2000s, making his first official F1 outing in 2006 at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia in an F2004 having already completed some private running previously.
The nine-time grand prix world champion seriously considered a switch to F1 in 2006 and had discussions with Ferrari ? though ultimately opted against it when its initial offer ...

read on