In 2026, Formula 1 will bid farewell to Sauber, the historic team that has launched several drivers who went on to become stars in the paddock. To secure an already established team, Audi did not hesitate to acquire the Hinwil outfit to carry out the German manufacturer’s ambitious project.
It’s true that Sauber’s recent years haven’t matched the early successes in F1, but the entire motorsport world owes thanks to this team and its founder, Peter Sauber, for the enormous contribution made to the development of the category. But what are the roots of the Swiss team? The answer might surprise you. Before debuting in Formula 1 in 1993, this small Swiss operation had already established itself in endurance racing.
First, however, we must introduce Peter Sauber. Born in Zurich in 1943, Peter trained as an electrician. Yet his true passion was engines and the world of racing. This drove him to start a new entrepreneurial venture: selling cars. Peter also wanted to compete in races, but at the time, circuit racing was banned in Switzerland due to the infamous 1955 Le Mans accident. Only hill climbs were allowed. This is where the story of Sauber began. In 1971, the first prototype, the Sauber C1, was produced.
The years of collaboration with Mercedes, Ford, and Ferrari
In 1985, in partnership with Mercedes, the C8 debuted at Le Mans. By 1989, the team had achieved victory in this iconic endurance race. From a small Swiss operation, Sauber became a well-established motorsport team, reaching its peak with the glorious Le Mans win. The leap to F1 became imminent, and in 1993, Sauber officially joined the category, still in collaboration with Mercedes.
The two manufacturers spent two seasons together before parting ways at the end of 1994. Sauber then announced a partnership with Ford, remaining essentially a customer team without excessive ambitions. In 1997, the story changed when Sauber signed a partnership deal with Ferrari. Only in 2001 did the Swiss team fully benefit from this collaboration, achieving an impressive fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, thanks in part to a rookie who would go on to make history: Kimi Räikkönen.
The BMW acquisition
Räikkönen’s performance undoubtedly drew the attention of top teams such as McLaren, who eventually negotiated with Sauber to secure the rookie. With the funds earned from this operation, Sauber even built a wind tunnel that is still in use today.
However, without Kimi, Sauber faced a series of disappointing results, leaving the owner in debt and forcing a sale. Volkswagen then entered the scene, with the team racing under the BMW name, even claiming a victory in Canada with Robert Kubica.
Even under German management, the situation didn’t improve, and Volkswagen’s impatience led to the team being returned to the original owner, eager to return to F1 and control his creation.
The 2010s and 2020s: the team’s most difficult period
With Peter Sauber back at the helm, the team returned to Ferrari engines. These years, however, were the most challenging in the team’s history. By 2016, with underwhelming results and rising debts, the Swiss entrepreneur sold Sauber to the Swedish giant Tetra Pak. With Frédéric Vasseur in charge, Sauber signed a deal with Sergio Marchionne, and from 2018, raced with Alfa Romeo branding and liveries.
From 2024, the team changed colors again, this time adopting a bright green livery and a somewhat complicated name. This season was probably the worst, finishing last in the Constructors’ Championship with a string of disappointing results. In its final year, to bid farewell to F1, Sauber achieved a sensational podium at Silverstone, almost as a celebration of its long history—a team remembered not for championship titles, but for launching numerous talented drivers.
The greatest drivers launched by Sauber
- Heinz-Harald Frentzen
- Kimi Räikkönen
- Felipe Massa
- Sergio Perez
- Charles Leclerc
- Antonio Giovinazzi
In a paddock increasingly dominated by industrial giants, Sauber represented for over thirty years a valuable anomaly: a team capable of surviving thanks to expertise, vision, and the courage to bet on young talent. They may not have won world championships, but they contributed quietly and decisively to modern F1 history, launching drivers who went on to become stars.
With Audi, the structure will continue under a new form, but the spirit of Peter Sauber, the drive to grow in a world dominated by giants, will remain forever imprinted in the team’s DNA.
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