On Tuesday, F1 will kick off its season with the launch of team liveries in London, a unique event for all teams and this year’s major novelty. However, behind the scenes, teams are finalizing preparations for testing, which will begin in less than ten days. As tradition dictates, February is the most intense period, with the completion of car assembly and the first fire-ups.
While waiting to return to the track, this is perhaps the most magical moment of the year. Despite the new cars having much in common with their predecessors, the fire-up is always a key milestone, allowing teams to check that all systems function correctly before pre-season testing.
At the Hinwil factory, the first “roar” of the C45’s Power Unit took place. This is the car that will compete this season and will feature a Ferrari Power Unit for the last time before the transition to Audi. From the video released by the Swiss team, it is immediately noticeable that the airbox remains the same as last year, with its squared-off shape housing three inlets to channel fresh air to the various radiators and the engine.
The 2025 season will be a transition year for Sauber, a fact the team has never hidden, as it is primarily working behind the scenes to plan for the future when it becomes Audi’s official team in 2026, with a Power Unit built in Germany under the new technical regulations.
To recruit new engineers, Sauber has also revealed that it plans to open a new facility in England this summer, which should facilitate the arrival of specialized technicians from other teams.
Defending the team’s colors this season will be an entirely new driver lineup with an intriguing pairing: alongside the experienced Nico Hülkenberg, who joins after two strong years at Haas, will be a highly promising rookie, Gabriel Bortoleto. The Brazilian arrives with back-to-back titles in Formula 2 and Formula 3, a double success that has drawn the close attention of Formula 1 teams.
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