Founding story
Peter Sauber began building racing cars in 1970, initially constructing the C1 in his parents' garage for competition in the Swiss Sports Car Championship. Early cars, like the C2, saw incremental improvements in engine power and success in hillclimbing events. The C4 marked Sauber’s introduction to continental competition, achieving a race win in the 1975 European 2-Litre Sportscar Championship. The team debuted in FIA competition with the C5 at the 1977 24 Hours of Le Mans, leading its class before retirement. The C5 did, however, secure Sauber's first championship win, taking the 1976 Interserie Championship with Swiss driver Herbert Müller.
Technology lineage
Sauber’s sports car development culminated in the C9, a successful prototype powered by a Mercedes engine. This car brought Mercedes back to the World Sportscar Championship as Team Sauber Mercedes. Sauber cars were often designated with a "C" followed by a number, honoring Peter Sauber’s wife, Christiane. In Formula One, Sauber pioneered several technological innovations, including high cockpit side walls – a safety feature implemented after Karl Wendlinger’s 1994 crash – longitudinally-mounted gearboxes, and the twin keel front suspension.
Driver relationships
Throughout its history, Sauber provided opportunities for young talent. Drivers like Heinz Harald-Frentzen, Kimi Räikkönen, and Felipe Massa all made their Formula One debuts with the team. Räikkönen, in particular, proved successful after moving to Ferrari, winning the 2007 Drivers’ Championship. Other notable drivers included Jean Alesi, Jacques Villeneuve, and Nick Heidfeld. The team also had a complex relationship with Mercedes, initially partnering for engine supply and later becoming BMW Sauber.
Historic peaks and collapses
Sauber’s greatest successes came in sports car racing during the 1980s and 1990s, particularly with the C9, securing consecutive World Endurance Championships in 1988 and 1989 and winning the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans. In Formula One, the team enjoyed a period of relative success as BMW Sauber from 2006 to 2009, achieving its best result – a win at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix – and finishing second in the 2007 World Constructors' Championship. However, the global financial crisis forced BMW to withdraw its support at the end of 2009. Peter Sauber reacquired the team for one euro, but financial struggles continued as an independent constructor. A 2016 sale to Longbow Finance provided temporary stability, followed by a title sponsorship with Alfa Romeo in 2018.
Current status
In 2024, Sauber was acquired by Audi AG, with the intention of transforming the team into the chassis constructor and sporting basis for the Audi F1 Team, set to enter Formula One in 2026. For the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the team competed as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, reflecting sponsorship agreements. The team finished tenth in the 2024 Formula One World Championship.
Legacy
Sauber’s legacy lies in its history of innovation and its role in launching the careers of numerous Formula One drivers. The team’s sports car success with Mercedes also marked a significant return for the manufacturer to endurance racing. The team’s facilities and engineering expertise formed the foundation for Audi’s entry into Formula One, continuing Sauber’s involvement in top-level motorsport. Sauber also established a junior team, the Sauber Academy, to develop young racing talent.
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