Sauber Motorsport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kick Sauber-Ferrari

Full name	Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
Base	Hinwil, Zürich, Switzerland
Team principal(s)	Alessandro Alunni Bravi (Team Representative)
Chief Technical Officer	Mattia Binotto
Technical director	James Key
Founder(s)	Peter Sauber
Previous name	Alfa Romeo F1 Team
Next name	Audi F1 Team
Formula One World Championship career
First entry	1993 South African Grand Prix
Last entry	2019 Monaco Grand Prix
Races entered	465 (462 starts)
Engines	Sauber, Mercedes, Ford, Petronas, BMW, Ferrari
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Race victories	1
Podiums	27
Points	865
Pole positions	1
Fastest laps	5

Sauber Motorsport AG is a Swiss company that designs and builds race cars. It's famous for competing in Formula One, the highest class of auto racing. The team is currently known as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber.

The company was started in 1970 by Peter Sauber. He began by building sports cars and eventually moved into Formula One in 1993. Sauber has raced under its own name and also partnered with big car brands like BMW and Alfa Romeo. From 2026, Sauber will become the official team for Audi in Formula One.

Sauber has won one Grand Prix race. This happened when they were known as BMW Sauber in 2008. They have also achieved many podium finishes, meaning their drivers finished in the top three. The team operates from a large facility in Hinwil, Switzerland.

Sauber's Racing Journey

Sauber Motorsport AG

Formerly	PP Sauber AG Red Bull Sauber AG BMW Sauber AG
Type	Private
Industry	Motor racing
Founded	1970
Founder	Peter Sauber
Headquarters	Hinwil, canton of Zürich, Switzerland
Key people	Mattia Binotto (COO & CTO) Gernot Döllner (Chairman)
Owner	Audi AG

Early Days in Sports Cars

Before joining Formula One, Peter Sauber built amazing sports cars. In the 1980s, his team worked with Mercedes-Benz. They became the official factory team for Mercedes. They even brought back the famous "Silver Arrow" name.

The Sauber-Mercedes team won the tough 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1989. They also won the World Sports Prototype Championship in 1989 and 1990. Famous drivers like Michael Schumacher raced for Sauber during this time.

Team Sauber-Mercedes achieved victory at the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Sauber-Mercedes C9.

Joining Formula One

Sauber entered Formula One in 1993. This was a time of big changes for F1 engines. They used V10 Ilmor engines. Their first car was called the C12.

First Steps in F1 (1993–1994)

The Sauber C12 made its debut in South Africa in 1993. It looked great and performed well, scoring points in its very first race. Even though the car sometimes had problems, it showed good speed. Sauber finished seventh in the championship that year.

The Sauber team's first Formula One car, the Sauber C12

The traditional Sauber "S" logo which has evolved through different sponsors over the years

In 1994, Sauber officially partnered with Mercedes-Benz. The engine was renamed the Mercedes 3.5 V10. Sadly, the season was difficult. Driver Karl Wendlinger had a serious crash at the Monaco Grand Prix. This accident helped make F1 cars safer, leading to new rules for head protection. Mercedes left Sauber at the end of 1994 to work with McLaren.

Working with Red Bull and Ford (1995–1996)

In 1995, Sauber started a partnership with the energy drink company Red Bull. They also used Ford engines. Driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen had a good season, helping the team score a record 18 points.

Frentzen driving for Sauber at the 1995 British Grand Prix

The team also gained a new sponsor, Petronas, in 1995. The 1996 season was tougher, with fewer points scored. For 1997, Sauber planned to use Ferrari engines.

Ferrari Engines and Sauber Petronas (1997–2005)

From 1997 to 2005, Sauber used engines designed by Ferrari. These engines were built by a company called Sauber Petronas Engineering. Sauber became a "customer team," meaning they bought parts and designs from Ferrari.

Jacques Villeneuve driving for the Sauber team at the 2005 Canadian Grand Prix

In 2001, Sauber brought in a new, young driver named Kimi Räikkönen. Many people thought he was too new to F1, but he proved them wrong with great performances. He later became a World Champion. In 2004, Sauber built a new wind tunnel and a powerful computer to help design their cars. These advanced tools made Sauber very attractive to other car manufacturers.

In 2005, Red Bull left Sauber to start their own F1 team. At the end of 2005, BMW bought most of Sauber's shares. This led to a new chapter for the team.

BMW Sauber Era (2006–2009)

After BMW bought into the team, it was renamed BMW Sauber. Peter Sauber kept a small share. The team raced under a German license.

2006 Season Highlights

For 2006, the team signed Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve. They used BMW engines. The new car had a blue, white, and red design.

Nick Heidfeld took BMW's first podium finish at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.

BMW Sauber put "Thanks Michael" messages on the back of their cars for what was then Michael Schumacher's last Grand Prix in Brazil.

Villeneuve scored the team's first points. Heidfeld later achieved BMW Sauber's first podium finish in Hungary. Young driver Robert Kubica also joined the team and showed great promise. BMW Sauber finished fifth in the Constructors' Championship.

2007 Season Highlights

In 2007, Kubica and Heidfeld were the main drivers. Their new car, the F1.07, looked very fast in testing. Heidfeld continued to score points, and the team became the third-best behind Ferrari and McLaren.

Nick Heidfeld took BMW Sauber's best result of 2007 with second place at the Canadian Grand Prix.

At the Canadian Grand Prix, Kubica had a big crash but was mostly okay. Sebastian Vettel filled in for him at the next race and became the youngest driver to score a point in F1.

2008 Season Highlights

The 2008 season started very well for BMW Sauber. Kubica got the team's first ever pole position in Bahrain. He then finished second in Monaco.

BMW Sauber took a podium finish in the first race of the 2008 season, courtesy of Nick Heidfeld.

The 2008 Canadian Grand Prix saw Robert Kubica win his and BMW Sauber's only race.

The team's biggest moment came at the Canadian Grand Prix. Robert Kubica won the race, and Nick Heidfeld finished second! This was BMW Sauber's only F1 victory. After this win, the team focused on developing their 2009 car. This meant they didn't improve as much during the rest of 2008.

2009 Season Challenges

The 2009 season was disappointing for BMW Sauber. Despite hoping to challenge for the title, they struggled. Kubica had a crash in the first race, and Heidfeld got one podium finish.

In a disappointing final year for BMW, Nick Heidfeld took the first of the team's two podiums during the season at the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix.

In July 2009, BMW announced they would leave Formula One at the end of the season. This made the team's future uncertain. Luckily, Peter Sauber bought the team back.

Sauber's Independent Return (2010–2018)

Back on Their Own (2010–2017)

In 2010, Peter Sauber officially bought the team back. They used Ferrari engines again. The team was still called "BMW Sauber F1 Team" for 2010 because of rules, even though BMW was no longer involved.

Kamui Kobayashi racing during the 2010 German Grand Prix

Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi and Pedro de la Rosa were the drivers. The team had a tough start but improved later in the season. Kobayashi's exciting driving earned him praise and points.

2011 and 2012 Success

Kobayashi stayed for 2011, joined by Sergio Pérez. The team regularly finished in the top 10. In 2012, Sauber had one of its best seasons as an independent team. Pérez finished second in Malaysia, a fantastic result!

Sergio Pérez at the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix

Kobayashi also got his first podium finish in Japan. Peter Sauber handed over the role of team principal to Monisha Kaltenborn, making her the first female F1 team boss.

2013 and 2014 Struggles

Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Gutiérrez drove for Sauber in 2013. The car was not as competitive as the year before. However, Hülkenberg showed great skill, especially in qualifying.

Nico Hülkenberg racing during the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix

In 2014, the team had a very difficult year. They failed to score any points for the first time in their history.

2015 and 2016 Seasons

Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr joined Sauber for 2015. The team improved, scoring points again. Nasr even finished fifth in the first race.

Felipe Nasr driving the Sauber C34 at the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix

Sauber drivers Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson racing for position at the 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix

In 2016, Sauber faced financial challenges. A Swiss investment firm, Longbow Finance, bought the team. This helped secure its future. Nasr scored the team's only points in 2016.

2017 Season

Ericsson stayed for 2017, joined by Pascal Wehrlein. Antonio Giovinazzi also drove for the team when Wehrlein was injured. Later in the season, Frédéric Vasseur became the new team principal.

Pascal Wehrlein competing for Sauber at the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix

Partnership with Alfa Romeo (2018)

In 2018, Sauber started a new partnership with Alfa Romeo. The team was renamed Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team. They continued to use Ferrari engines.

Marcus Ericsson driving an Alfa Romeo Sauber C37 during pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

Charles Leclerc driving the Sauber C37 during the first free practice session of the 2018 Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit

Young driver Charles Leclerc joined Ericsson. Leclerc showed amazing talent, scoring points often. Sauber finished eighth in the Constructors' Championship, a good improvement.

Alfa Romeo Racing Era (2019–2023)

2019 Season

For 2019, Sauber officially became Alfa Romeo Racing. F1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen joined the team, along with Antonio Giovinazzi.

Antonio Giovinazzi driving the Alfa Romeo C38 during the 2019 Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring

The 2019 season was strong for Alfa Romeo. Räikkönen scored points in many races. A highlight was the Brazilian Grand Prix, where both cars finished in the top five.

2020 and 2021 Seasons

Räikkönen and Giovinazzi continued as drivers for 2020. The season was more challenging, and the team scored fewer points.

Kimi Räikkönen driving the Alfa Romeo C39 at the 2020 Pre-Season testing session at Circuit de Cataluyna

In 2021, the team finished ninth in the championship. Räikkönen scored most of the points before retiring from F1 at the end of the year.

2022 and 2023 Seasons

For 2022, former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas and rookie Zhou Guanyu joined the team. They entered as Alfa Romeo F1 Team. Bottas had a strong start, and Zhou also scored points. The team finished sixth in the championship.

In 2023, Alfa Romeo ended its partnership with Sauber. The team signed new sponsors, Stake and Kick. The team was renamed Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake. In some countries, they used the name Alfa Romeo F1 Team Kick due to advertising rules.

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber (2024–2025)

2024 Season

For 2024, Sauber officially lost the Alfa Romeo sponsorship. The team is now called Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber. Bottas and Zhou continue as drivers. The 2024 car is named the Kick Sauber C44.

Bottas and Zhou on the grid for Sprint Race, 2024 Chinese Grand Prix

2025 Season

Nico Hülkenberg will return to the team in 2025. He will be joined by Gabriel Bortoleto.

Audi Factory Team (from 2026)

Sauber will become the official factory team for Audi from 2026. Audi plans to take full control of the Sauber Group. This is a big step for Sauber, as they will be working directly with a major car manufacturer again.

Sauber Academy

Sauber also has a program called the Sauber Academy. This program helps young, talented drivers develop their skills. It helps them move up through different racing series, hoping to reach Formula One one day.

Racing Record

Formula One results
Year	Name	Car	Engine	Tyres	No.	Drivers	Points	WCC
Sauber
1993	Team Sauber Formula 1	C12	Sauber 2175A 3.5 V10	G	29. 30.	Karl Wendlinger JJ Lehto	12	7th
1994	Broker Sauber Mercedes Sauber Mercedes	C13	Mercedes 2175B 3.5 V10	G	29. 29. 29. 30.	Karl Wendlinger Andrea de Cesaris JJ Lehto Heinz-Harald Frentzen	12	8th
1995	Red Bull Sauber Ford	C14	Ford ECA Zetec-R 3.0 V8	G	29. 29. 30.	Karl Wendlinger Jean-Christophe Boullion Heinz-Harald Frentzen	18	7th
1996	Red Bull Sauber Ford	C15	Ford JD Zetec-R 3.0 V10	G	14. 15.	Johnny Herbert Heinz-Harald Frentzen	11	7th
1997	Red Bull Sauber Petronas	C16	Petronas SPE-01 3.0 V10	G	16. 17. 17. 17.	Johnny Herbert Nicola Larini Gianni Morbidelli Norberto Fontana	16	7th
1998	Red Bull Sauber Petronas	C17	Petronas SPE-01D 3.0 V10	G	14. 15.	Jean Alesi Johnny Herbert	10	6th
1999	Red Bull Sauber Petronas	C18	Petronas SPE-03A 3.0 V10	B	11. 12.	Jean Alesi Pedro Diniz	5	8th
2000	Red Bull Sauber Petronas	C19	Petronas SPE-04A 3.0 V10	B	16. 17.	Pedro Diniz Mika Salo	6	8th
2001	Red Bull Sauber Petronas	C20	Petronas 01A 3.0 V10	B	16. 17.	Nick Heidfeld Kimi Räikkönen	21	4th
2002	Sauber Petronas	C21	Petronas 02A 3.0 V10	B	7. 8. 8.	Nick Heidfeld Felipe Massa Heinz-Harald Frentzen	11	5th
2003	Sauber Petronas	C22	Petronas 03A 3.0 V10	B	9. 10.	Nick Heidfeld Heinz-Harald Frentzen	19	6th
2004	Sauber Petronas	C23	Petronas 04A 3.0 V10	B	11. 12.	Giancarlo Fisichella Felipe Massa	34	6th
2005	Sauber Petronas	C24	Petronas 05A 3.0 V10	M	11. 12.	Jacques Villeneuve Felipe Massa	20	8th
BMW Sauber
2006	BMW Sauber F1 Team	F1.06	BMW P86/6 2.4 V8	M	16. 17. 17.	Nick Heidfeld Jacques Villeneuve Robert Kubica	36	5th
2007	BMW Sauber F1 Team	F1.07	BMW P86/7 2.4 V8	B	9. 10. 10.	Nick Heidfeld Robert Kubica Sebastian Vettel	101	2nd
2008	BMW Sauber F1 Team	F1.08	BMW P86/8 2.4 V8	B	3. 4.	Nick Heidfeld Robert Kubica	135	3rd
2009	BMW Sauber F1 Team	F1.09	BMW P86/9 2.4 V8	B	5. 6.	Robert Kubica Nick Heidfeld	36	6th
2010	BMW Sauber F1 Team	C29	Ferrari 056 2.4 V8	B	22. 22. 23.	Pedro de la Rosa Nick Heidfeld Kamui Kobayashi	44	8th
Sauber
2011	Sauber F1 Team	C30	Ferrari 056 2.4 V8	P	16. 17. 17.	Kamui Kobayashi Sergio Pérez Pedro de la Rosa	44	7th
2012	Sauber F1 Team	C31	Ferrari 056 2.4 V8	P	14. 15.	Kamui Kobayashi Sergio Pérez	126	6th
2013	Sauber F1 Team	C32	Ferrari 056 2.4 V8	P	11. 12.	Nico Hülkenberg Esteban Gutiérrez	57	7th
2014	Sauber F1 Team	C33	Ferrari 059/3 1.6 V6 t	P	21. 99.	Esteban Gutiérrez Adrian Sutil	0	10th
2015	Sauber F1 Team	C34	Ferrari 060 1.6 V6 t	P	9. 12.	Marcus Ericsson Felipe Nasr	36	8th
2016	Sauber F1 Team	C35	Ferrari 061 1.6 V6 t	P	9. 12.	Marcus Ericsson Felipe Nasr	2	10th
2017	Sauber F1 Team	C36	Ferrari 061 1.6 V6 t	P	9. 36. 94.	Marcus Ericsson Antonio Giovinazzi Pascal Wehrlein	5	10th
2018	Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team	C37	Ferrari 063 1.6 V6 t	P	9. 16.	Marcus Ericsson Charles Leclerc	48	8th
Alfa Romeo
2019	Alfa Romeo Racing	C38	Ferrari 064 1.6 V6 t	P	7. 99.	Kimi Räikkönen Antonio Giovinazzi	57	8th
2020	Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen	C39	Ferrari 065 1.6 V6 t	P	7. 99.	Kimi Räikkönen Antonio Giovinazzi	8	8th
2021	Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen	C41	Ferrari 065/6 1.6 V6 t	P	7. 88. 99.	Kimi Räikkönen Robert Kubica Antonio Giovinazzi	13	9th
2022	Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen	C42	Ferrari 066/7 1.6 V6 t	P	24. 77.	Zhou Guanyu Valtteri Bottas	55	6th
2023	Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake	C43	Ferrari 066/10 1.6 V6 t	P	24. 77.	Zhou Guanyu Valtteri Bottas	16	9th
Kick Sauber
2024	Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber	C44	Ferrari 066/12 1.6 V6 t	P	24. 77.	Zhou Guanyu Valtteri Bottas	*	*

Notes

• * – Season still in progress.