Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: Sauber

  • Kick Sauber confirm Bortoleto for 2025

    Brazilian racer Gabriel Bortoleto will be making his Formula 1 debut in 2025 after signing a multi-year deal with Sauber / Audi, with the team confirming that they are parting ways with Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.

    Bortoleto fended off competition from 10 time race winner Bottas to secure the seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg in an all new lineup for the Hinwil based team next season and in 2026 when the team become Audi’s work squad.

    The 20 year old reigning F3 Champion from 2023 is currently leading the F2 Championship with two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to go.

    He signed for Fernando Alonso’s driver management company A14 in 2022 and last year joined the McLaren driver programme, which gave him his first taste of F1 machinery with a test at the Red Bull Ring in a 2022 spec McLaren.

    Bortoleto has impressed with his consistency in F2 this year with Invicta Racing, scoring two wins and three further podiums to lead Isack Hadjar by 4.5 points.

    His Sauber/Audi deal will make him the fourth full-time rookie on the 2025 grid, joining Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Haas’ Ollie Bearman.

    He is also the first full time Brazilian Grand Prix driver since Felipe Massa, who retired at the end of 2017. His appearance comes after countryman Pietro Fittipaldi subbed in for Romain Grosjean for two Grands Prix in 2020.

    Gabriel has already demonstrated in the junior categories that he has what it takes to be a winning driver. We are very pleased that he will become a team member of Sauber and Audi. Together with Gabriel, we are on a journey towards success, and we will evolve into a unified force to shape a new era for Audi in motorsport. Nico and Gabriel represent the ideal combination of experience and youth, positioning us strongly for the future.
    Sauber COO and CTO, Mattia Binotto.

    This is one of the most exciting projects in motorsport, if not in all of sports. Joining a team that combines the rich motorsport history of Sauber and Audi is a true honour. Beyond simply being a member, I aim to grow with this ambitious project and reach the pinnacle of motorsport. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity given to me by the team and for the chance to work alongside an experienced driver like Nico. Both programs have a proven track record of nurturing young talent, and I am confident that together, we will write our own success story.
    Bortoleto on the news.

    Led by Mattia, Audi’s Formula 1 project is making great progress in many areas. The signing of the second driver is another milestone. We are currently witnessing a generational shift in Formula One, with young drivers immediately making an impact. By signing Gabriel Bortoleto, we have secured one of these top talents. His signing underscores Audi’s long-term strategy and commitment to Formula 1.
    Chairman of the Board of Sauber Motorsport AG Gernot Dollner.

  • Where will Carlos Sainz go?

    Since the announcement of Lewis Hamilton going to Ferrari before the season started there’s been a popular question flying around, where will Carlos Sainz go?

    The Spanish drivers choice is wearing thin even though most of the grid has not been confirmed.
    10 drivers have been confirmed but some team’s have recently been making regards to who would potentially be available for those second seats, which rules Sainz out.

    Mercedes and Red Bull were somewhat interested but have decided against it, especially with the latter looking like they might re-sign Perez.

    Which now they have so Red Bull is out of the equation entirely.

    The two teams which seem on the cards for the Spanish driver is Sauber and Williams… neither are current winning teams which is what he wanted.

    His two main options are teams which both largely depend on hypothetical progress. The potential trajectories are encouraging – and Audi’s ceiling as a works team is higher than Williams.

    Williams is fractionally less worse off, with the British team scoring their first point this season in Monaco.
    The team seem to be giving Sainz a choice to make between two projects with big question marks and a long list of slightly different pros and cons.

    Audi has enough of the latter as a new engine manufacturer and a company taking over a struggling existing team for the door to at least be open to Williams swooping in.

    And James Vowles is a big reason for that. He’s already re-signed Alex Albon on a multi year deal and is why Williams team that is performing slightly worse than 12 months ago is escaping with relatively little scrutiny.
    But for now, Vowles is getting the benefit of the doubt because of the long-term malaise he is try to permanently rescue Williams form, and the many problems the team is known to have from its facilities through to its culture.

    So now the decision is on Carlos, what team would he prefer?…

    Third placed Carlos Sainz of Spain and Ferrari attends the press conference after the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2024 in...

  • Kick Sauber sign Hulkenberg for 2025

    Nico Hulkenberg will be leaving Haas at the conclusion of the 2024 season, with Sauber securing him for the 2025 season and beyond.

    Hulkenberg joined forces with Haas in 2023, in a move that saw the German driver return to the sport after three-year absence from a full-time F1 driver.
    But now it’s been confirmed that the 36 year old will depart the American squad and make his way to Sauber at the end of the campaign.

    Hulkenberg’s switch will trigger a return to the Sauber team he previously represented in 2013, with the Hinwil operation – who have fielded Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu for the past three seasons – soon to be officially taken over by German manufacturer Audi.

    For Haas, they will be taking their time to fill the vacant seat as we are not even half way through the season yet… But there is one driver who is the favourite which is Ferrari’s Ollie Bearman!

    And for Sauber, it hasn’t been confirmed yet, who is leaving whether it’s Bottas or Zhou Guanyu…

    I’d like to extend my thanks to Nico for his contributions to the team in the time that he’s been here with us – he’s been a great team player and someone we very much enjoy working with. His experience and feedback have proved invaluable to us in terms of improving our overall performance – a fact that’s clearly evident in both his qualifying and race performances in the VF-24 this season. There’s lots more racing to go this year so we look forward to continuing to benefit from his inputs throughout the remainder of the 2024 season.
    Ayao Komatsu, on Hulkenberg’s departure.

    We are very pleased to welcome Nico back here in Hinwil from 2025 and to compete with him in Formula 1. With his speed, his experience and his commitment to teamwork, he will be an important part of the transformation of our team – and of Audi’s F1 project. Right from the start, there was great mutual interest in building something long-term together. Nico is a strong personality, and his input, on a professional and personal level, will help us to make progress both in the development of the car and in building up the team.
    Andreas Siedl, CEO of Sauber Motorsport AG and also CEO of the future Audi F1 factory team.

    I’m returning to the team I worked with back in 2013 and have fond memories of the strong team spirit in Switzerland. The prospect of competing for Audi is something very special. When a German manufacturer enters Formula 1 with such determination, it is a unique opportunity. To represent the factory team of such a car brand with a power unit made in Germany is a great honour for me.
    Hulkenberg on the news.

  • C44

    Stake have unveiled their 2024 challenger the C44, which sports a dazzling new fluorescent green and black livery, at a glittering event at London’s Guildhall.

    The Sauber-run team, who will run under the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber name this year, are embarking on a new era after saying goodbye to Italian sponsor Alfa Romeo.

    The Swiss-operation say the C44 is “a marked departure from its predecessor” and a “slew of changes have been introduced”. One of the most significant tweaks is a move from push-rod to pull-rod suspension.

    The C44 also features revised sidepods and engine cover plus a new floor – one of the most important areas for development when pursuing pure lap time.
    The team adds “some important updates” will be brought to the car in the opening rounds.

    The car will hit the track for the first time on Friday when it completes a shakedown at Barcelona and then onto pre-season testing.

    The new car we unveiled today, the C44, is a tribute to the work done by James Key and the technical team, and to every man and woman in Hinwil, who all contributed to the car we see today. Witnessing the launch of a new car is always a special moment, and even more so when it marks the start of a new era, that of Stake F1 Team. We have a fresh new identity and we are excited about everything we have planned, on and off the track: today, though, it is all about the C44 and its potential. We are confident about this car and our team: we won’t speak about specific targets, because it’s always difficult to put commit to numbers, but our targets are clear – to improve the performance of our car and our package. By package, I mean every area, from the race team to the operations on track, the pit stops, the strategy: it’s more than just the car performance, and we are committed in all departments to make this step, this is the target. Then, we will see where our position will be as the season progresses: but the key target is to improve this year and to deliver a better job than we did in 2023.

    Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Team Representative.

    The C44 is virtually a completely new car, with a few carry-over areas at the rear of the car. The team had to take an ambitious direction well before I joined: there are many mechanical changes, some of which you can’t see at all, but some are very visible. The front suspension is completely new, a tough and ambitious project for a team of our size. There are many aerodynamic changes, too, as would be expected given that this remains the primary area of development – so, overall, the car will really look quite different to last year’s car. We took a lot of new, exciting directions, all of which appear to hold quite a bit of potential, so we’re looking forward to seeing them on track.

    James Key, Technical Director.

  • Sauber relaunches under new identity

    The Sauber-run Formula 1 team that previously operated as Alfa Romeo has officially launched its new identity ahead of the 2024 F1 season, now known as Stake F1 Team.

    Betting, entertainment and lifestyle brand Stake has stepped up its involvement after joining the then Alfa Romeo-branded team as a title sponsor in 2023.
    Stake will now be the squad’s official name for two years before it transitions to Audi in 2026.

    Audi is in the process of taking over what’s now Stake, before entering F1 as a manufacturer in 2026 with its own team and engine.
    It bought a minority stake in the team at the start of 2023 and is set to increase that to 50% and then 75% over the next year or so.

    But while Audi gears up for 2026 and Sauber’s existing Ferrari engine deal runs till the end of 2025, Sauber has struck new naming rights deals for the intervening years.

    It has run under the Alfa Romeo name for the last few seasons, initially just in title sponsorship form in 2018 before selling the team and chassis name to the Italian manufacturer from 2019 through to the end of 2023.

    The end of the Alfa Romeo deal could have led to a revival of the Sauber name, which the team ran under until its BMW takeover in 2006 and then again after BMW’s exit from 2010 until the Alfa tie-up.

  • 05-02-24

    Williams and Sauber will launch their respective 2024 Formula 1 campaigns on February 5th.

    Williams did not reveal many details about their launch plans, as they look on to build a superb seventh-place finish in the constructors’ championship this season.

    The British team have been working on their car for a significant amount of time, having shifted all of their resources to 2024 after race eight in Canada.

    Sauber, who will be known as Stake F1 Team from 2024, also didn’t reveal much in details.
    However, the Swiss team did reveal they will hold an early evening event that will take place in London for the first time.

    The London launch will be the first chance to see their new team identity in the flesh, with the team saying it will delivery the wow factor to our sport.

    Williams and Sauber are the second and third teams respectively to send out a save the date for their season launch, after Ferrari got in first when they pencilled in February 13th.

  • Alfa Romeo announce James Key as Technical Director

    Alfa Romeo have made another change to their F1 organisation after announcing James Key as their new Technical Director, replacing Jan Monchaux.

    Key, who will officially start work on September 1st 2023, previously represented the Hinwil-based operation as Technical Director for the then Sauber team from 2010 to 2012.

    Marking Key’s first role since his exit from McLaren earlier this year, his appointment has been described as “a statement of intent” by the squad ahead of them becoming Audi’s works team in 2026.

    Key has represented several other teams, including Jordan Grand Prix, where he became F1’s youngest ever Technical Director at the age of 33 in 2005, the following guises of Midland, Spyker and Force India, as well as stints at Sauber, Toro Rosso and McLaren.

    I am delighted to be returning to Hinwil to work with old, and new, colleagues at Sauber; I have very fond memories of my time there before. I am looking forward to leading the technical side of the team at one of the most critical junctures of its long history as we head towards a new and exciting future. There is a huge amount of work ahead of us, but I am confident that every single member of our team working in Hinwil will have the commitment, determination and hunger to get us to the top. We know it will require time, effort and perseverance, and the dividends from this work will only arrive over the next two seasons and beyond, but we have a journey ahead of us and a roadmap to follow which I am eager to get started. I am grateful to Andreas [Seidl] for the confidence he has placed in me and look forward to repaying his trust and working closely with him on the challenges and ambitions ahead.

    Key on the new role.

    I am delighted to welcome James back home to Hinwil as he joins us to shape the future of this team. The operation he will find has changed a lot since his time here, but the same drive, the same commitment that contributed to making the team successful in his previous experience are still the same: I am sure that, together with this very talented and committed team, we will be able to continue on the path of growth on which we have embarked. James’ appointment is a crucial step on this journey: he has an outstanding amount of experience in the sport, not just as Technical Director, but also in various other roles within the technical organisation of a team. He will lead the transformation process of the technical side of the team, giving us the tools and direction we need to tackle the future. I also want to thank Jan for his precious contribution to taking Sauber to where it is now, following our most successful season in a decade, in which we climbed to sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship.

    Sauber Group CEO, Seidl.

  • Seidl appointed CEO of Sauber Group

    McLaren Team Principal, Andreas Seidl will become Sauber’s new Chief Executive Officer in January.

    Fred Vasseur is set to vacate the role, which he dovetailed with his duties as Team Principal of Alfa Romeo, to take over from Mattia Binotto at Ferrari.

    Once Seidl is in place, Sauber who will become Audi’s factory team in 2026 – say he will focus on working on the appointment of the squad’s new team principal.

    Seidl returns to Sauber, having worked their previously as Head of Trackside Operations for several years. He subsequently won several World Endurance Championship titles with Porsche as Team Principal before joining McLaren in 2019.

    It is great to join the Sauber Group from January: this is a team with a rich history in Formula 1 and an organisation I know really well from my time working and living in Hinwil for four years. I can’t wait to join the team and work with all the colleagues at the Sauber Group on the ambitious goals we have set together. I want to thank Finn Rausing and everyone at the Sauber Group for their choice: I am looking forward to repaying their trust with my work.

    Seidl on his move.

    It is an immense pleasure to welcome Andreas Seidl back to Hinwil as CEO of the Sauber Group. Andreas’s experience is second to none and he brings to Sauber Group a clear understanding of what is required to achieve sustained success. He takes over a company on an upward path and he shares our commitment to keeping our organisation growing: I look forward to many years of success together.

    Sauber Holding AG Chairman of the Board of Directors, Finn Rausing

  • Audi & Sauber to join forces in 2026

    Audi have reached an agreement with Sauber to make the Swiss Formula 1 operation their works team from 2026.

    The German manufacturer announced in August that they will be joining F1 as a power unite supplier, when new regulations that feature increased electrical power and 100% sustainable fuels will be introduced in four years time.

    Ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend, Audi said Sauber – who are currently running under the Alfa Romeo banner – will become their “strategic partner” for their F1 programme and that the automotive company plans to acquire a stake in the Sauber Group.

    Audi will create their power unit at their base in Neuburg in Germany where already more than 120 people are working on the project – while Sauber will develop and manufacture their race car at their headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland. Sauber will also be responsible for planning and executing the race operations.

    Ahead of Audi’s arrival, Alfa Romeo will end their title sponsorship of Sauber a the end of the 2023 campaign. The Swiss team will continue to use Ferrari power units through to the end of 2025, before taking on Audi power for the following campaign.

    Audi who are apart of the Volkswagen Group – say expansion of their Neuburg facility in terms of personnel, buildings and technical infrastructure should “be largely in place for 2023”. They intend to do their first tests of the 2026 power unit in an F1 test car in 2025.

    We are delighted to have gained such an experienced and competent partner for our ambitious Formula 1 project. We already know the Sauber Group with its state-of-the-art facility and experienced team from previous collaborations and are convinced that together we will form a strong team.

    Oliver Hoffmann, Audi AG Board Member.

    The partnership between Audi AG and Sauber Motorsport is a key step for our team as we continue to make progress towards the front of the grid. To become Audi’s official works team is not only an honour and a great responsibility: it’s the best option for the future and we are fully confident we can help Audi achieve the objectives they have set for their journey in Formula 1.

    Sauber Motorsport CEO and Team Principal, Fred Vasseur.

    It is great news to hear that Audi will have a partnership with Sauber for their entry into Formula 1 in 2026. The combination of those two names is a very exciting prospect for our sport. It highlights the strong momentum that Formula 1 has and the belief in our strategy to further grow and enhance the sport while delivering on our sustainability plans to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030 with advanced sustainable fuels in the cars in 2026. We look forward to seeing their progress over the coming years and the car on the grid for the team’s first race.

    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of F1.

  • Alfa Romeo to end Sauber contract in 2023

    Alfa Romeo say they will end their title sponsorship of Sauber when their current arrangement expires at the close of the 2023 Formula 1 campaign.

    The famous Italian marque returned to Formula 1 in 2018 through a technical and commercial partnership and in the summer of 2021 announced a multi-year extension with “year assessments”.

    Last month, the opted to continue into 2023 “given the promising results f the first half of the season, both in terms of performances, marketing and positive collaboration with the team”.

    But ahead of this weekends Belgian Grand Prix, with around a season and a half to go on the current agreement, Alfa Romeo took the opportunity to put an end date on their relationship.

    Alfa Romeo, who currently run Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are currently sixth in the constructors championship (they ended last year ninth) with 51 points.

    Since the economic and industrial turnaround of the brand will be achieved in 2022, Alfa Romeo will now evaluate among the many opportunities on the table, and decide which will be the best one to sustain the long term strategy and the positioning of the Brand.

    The team on leaving their contract with Sauber.