Sauber is still the only team with zero points in the 2024 standings, and it has been twelve months since they last finished in the top ten. A technical decline caused by a car that hasn’t shown any signs of improvement throughout the season: how can Audi intervene to reverse the trend?
It’s been twelve months since Sauber last scored points, at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. At the time, the partnership with Alfa Romeo was still in place, and it was the swan song of that collaboration, with a double top-ten finish that earned the Swiss team six points, which was enough to overtake Haas in the Constructors’ Championship and avoid last place.
A year later, however, the situation is different and even more challenging, as Sauber is still stuck at zero points in the 2024 standings, having failed to score any points throughout the season.
The team’s best chances came early in the year, but they were hindered by pit stop issues that, on multiple occasions, prevented them from maximizing their race performance, as happened in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, where a remote chance of finishing in the top ten was not entirely unrealistic. Interestingly, since then, Sauber has made great strides in that area, as they have recently been among the fastest in the field during pit stops.
This situation has had an impact, however, as while other teams began developing their cars, Sauber invested money and resources to solve their pit stop problems. Clearly, though, this is not the only reason for the Swiss team’s decline. While they can point to early-season difficulties and missed opportunities, it’s also true that their development has not gone in the right direction.
At the start of the year, the Hinwil car seemed capable of competing in the upper mid-field in terms of performance, despite issues with high-speed corners due to a lack of downforce, a problem that had already been faced last season. Throughout the year, upgrades were introduced to try to address the situation and breathe new life into the car, but the improvements didn’t deliver the hoped-for leap forward, as seen with other teams. Moreover, the most substantial technical package arrived just before the summer break and was only available for one car.
It’s a tough situation, with the car still showing clear weaknesses in both performance and drivability. The drivers have frequently complained that the C45 is very difficult to drive and overly sensitive to external factors like wind. Additionally, the car struggles with bumps and uneven surfaces, so it was no surprise that it struggled in Singapore.
Currently, Sauber finds itself in a holding pattern, with investments aimed at preparing for 2026, when the team will become Audi’s official team. Clearly, everything developed and improved during this transformation process could be useful even before the entry of the “four rings,” but it’s also clear that time is needed to put everything in place correctly. The team has launched a recruitment campaign, which may yield results in the short term, while improving facilities will take longer. It’s not just about investing, but also about putting together all the elements to maximize the project’s potential, as Aston Martin has demonstrated.
This is an aspect that current board member and team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi knows well, especially since other teams, like McLaren, have heavily invested in upgrading their facilities in recent years. In fact, according to the Italian, every resource the Swiss team has offers room for improvement.
“In the last 18 months, we’ve seen a change in the management structure, both from Audi and Sauber. I believe there has been a clear review of the project and a realignment of objectives based on the task ahead of us,” explained Alunni Bravi.
“I’ve always believed that the challenge of Formula 1 is completely different from any other motorsport category. And of course, we have a lot of work to do to catch up with our competitors. We need to increase staff, facilities, technology, and tools. But we knew that.”
“I believe there is now a clearer understanding of what is needed, not just to improve, but to become a winning team. With Mattia’s [Binotto, new head of the Sauber Group] experience and [Gernot Dollner, Audi CEO] commitment, I believe they share a clear vision of the trajectory of this team and what is necessary,” added the Italian.
“If you look at the investment McLaren made, they decided to build a new wind tunnel. At Aston Martin, what they’ve done in the last three and a half years in terms of their factory, new wind tunnel, new simulator, staff increases, and the hiring of high-profile personnel, with Adrian Newey being the latest addition. So it’s not just that Sauber needs to improve to become a factory team. Formula 1 has never stopped evolving. It’s never stopped improving. In all areas, in terms of technology, in terms of personnel. This is something we also need to do.”
Mattia Binotto, in his first public appearance as the new head of the Sauber Group at Monza, said that Sauber’s current results are unacceptable, especially for a team that will soon become Audi. It is clear that a step change is needed, and the fact that there has been more behind-the-scenes movement to improve the team for 2026 than for the immediate future, as confirmed by Valtteri Bottas, has had a significant impact.
“We’re building a team together, and I believe it’s very important to lay solid foundations right now. And the fact that Mattia was at Monza is a clear sign that his commitment is not just for the future, but that we need to show progress now to be competitive in the future. He has full responsibility for the team’s sporting success, and sporting success starts now, not in 2026. So we’re laying the foundations now,” added Alunni Bravi.
Former Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto himself explained that it is crucial to change the mindset of those already working at Sauber, who have become accustomed to mid-field results in recent years, into a mentality that hungers for victories. “We know we’re starting as a small team. We need a clear organizational transformation from a cultural mindset perspective, but in every aspect,” explained Mattia Binotto.
“We must, step by step, make the right decisions, find the right solutions, and have a clear goal ahead of us: to become a truly winning team and a reference point for Formula 1 in a few years. There is full support. I’ve been convinced of the project, and I’m fully confident it is in our hands.”
“Judging how much time is needed is very difficult. The gap is significant, certainly. It’s significant in terms of the number of people working there, the facilities, what is available, and the tools. There are so many details: whatever you look at, there’s something different compared to what I was used to.”
“But for me, it’s fantastic. It’s fantastic because I know I have a reference point in mind. I think this will surely help the project in terms of what to do, and then it’s about ‘How can we do it as quickly as possible?’ Today, I believe the reference points are clear. We’re setting our priorities because we can’t do everything at once.”
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