Sauber Motorsport facts for kids
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Full name | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
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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.
Contents
Sauber's Racing Journey
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Formerly
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PP Sauber AG Red Bull Sauber AG BMW Sauber AG |
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Private | |
Industry | Motor racing |
Founded | 1970 |
Founder | Peter Sauber |
Headquarters | Hinwil, canton of Zürich, Switzerland |
Key people
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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.
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.
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.
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.

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.


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.
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.
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 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.


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.

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.

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.
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 | ||||||||
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Year | Name | Car | Engine | Tyres | No. | Drivers | Points | WCC |
Sauber | ||||||||
1993 | ![]() |
C12 | Sauber 2175A 3.5 V10 | G | 29. 30. |
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12 | 7th |
1994 | ![]() ![]() |
C13 | Mercedes 2175B 3.5 V10 | G | 29. 29. 29. 30. |
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12 | 8th |
1995 | ![]() |
C14 | Ford ECA Zetec-R 3.0 V8 | G | 29. 29. 30. |
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18 | 7th |
1996 | ![]() |
C15 | Ford JD Zetec-R 3.0 V10 | G | 14. 15. |
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11 | 7th |
1997 | ![]() |
C16 | Petronas SPE-01 3.0 V10 | G | 16. 17. 17. 17. |
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16 | 7th |
1998 | ![]() |
C17 | Petronas SPE-01D 3.0 V10 | G | 14. 15. |
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10 | 6th |
1999 | ![]() |
C18 | Petronas SPE-03A 3.0 V10 | B | 11. 12. |
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5 | 8th |
2000 | ![]() |
C19 | Petronas SPE-04A 3.0 V10 | B | 16. 17. |
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6 | 8th |
2001 | ![]() |
C20 | Petronas 01A 3.0 V10 | B | 16. 17. |
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21 | 4th |
2002 | ![]() |
C21 | Petronas 02A 3.0 V10 | B | 7. 8. 8. |
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11 | 5th |
2003 | ![]() |
C22 | Petronas 03A 3.0 V10 | B | 9. 10. |
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19 | 6th |
2004 | ![]() |
C23 | Petronas 04A 3.0 V10 | B | 11. 12. |
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34 | 6th |
2005 | ![]() |
C24 | Petronas 05A 3.0 V10 | M | 11. 12. |
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20 | 8th |
BMW Sauber | ||||||||
2006 | ![]() |
F1.06 | BMW P86/6 2.4 V8 | M | 16. 17. 17. |
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36 | 5th |
2007 | ![]() |
F1.07 | BMW P86/7 2.4 V8 | B | 9. 10. 10. |
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101 | 2nd |
2008 | ![]() |
F1.08 | BMW P86/8 2.4 V8 | B | 3. 4. |
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135 | 3rd |
2009 | ![]() |
F1.09 | BMW P86/9 2.4 V8 | B | 5. 6. |
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36 | 6th |
2010 | ![]() |
C29 | Ferrari 056 2.4 V8 | B | 22. 22. 23. |
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44 | 8th |
Sauber | ||||||||
2011 | ![]() |
C30 | Ferrari 056 2.4 V8 | P | 16. 17. 17. |
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44 | 7th |
2012 | ![]() |
C31 | Ferrari 056 2.4 V8 | P | 14. 15. |
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126 | 6th |
2013 | ![]() |
C32 | Ferrari 056 2.4 V8 | P | 11. 12. |
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57 | 7th |
2014 | ![]() |
C33 | Ferrari 059/3 1.6 V6 t | P | 21. 99. |
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0 | 10th |
2015 | ![]() |
C34 | Ferrari 060 1.6 V6 t | P | 9. 12. |
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36 | 8th |
2016 | ![]() |
C35 | Ferrari 061 1.6 V6 t | P | 9. 12. |
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2 | 10th |
2017 | ![]() |
C36 | Ferrari 061 1.6 V6 t | P | 9. 36. 94. |
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5 | 10th |
2018 | ![]() |
C37 | Ferrari 063 1.6 V6 t | P | 9. 16. |
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48 | 8th |
Alfa Romeo | ||||||||
2019 | ![]() |
C38 | Ferrari 064 1.6 V6 t | P | 7. 99. |
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57 | 8th |
2020 | ![]() |
C39 | Ferrari 065 1.6 V6 t | P | 7. 99. |
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8 | 8th |
2021 | ![]() |
C41 | Ferrari 065/6 1.6 V6 t | P | 7. 88. 99. |
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13 | 9th |
2022 | ![]() |
C42 | Ferrari 066/7 1.6 V6 t | P | 24. 77. |
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55 | 6th |
2023 | ![]() |
C43 | Ferrari 066/10 1.6 V6 t | P | 24. 77. |
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16 | 9th |
Kick Sauber | ||||||||
2024 | ![]() |
C44 | Ferrari 066/12 1.6 V6 t | P | 24. 77. |
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* | * |
Notes
- * – Season still in progress.