The Swiss outfit has taken benefit of a two-year hole between its Alfa Romeo deal and the swap to full Audi works branding in 2026 to introduce a fluo inexperienced and black livery for its first season with Stake as sole title sponsor.
The C44 shall be shaken down by Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu in a filming day in Barcelona on Friday previous to the official F1 take a look at in Bahrain on February 21-23.
The brand new automobile is the primary to be developed with the enter of technical director James Key, though the venture was already nicely underneath approach when the previous McLaren man began work on the workforce in September.
It options what the workforce calls an “aggressively redesigned” aerodynamic package deal and a swap from a push-rod to a pull-rod entrance suspension – a configuration used beforehand by Crimson Bull and McLaren, which is primarily meant to create an aero profit.
Sauber has indicated that it has deliberate a extra formidable R&D programme than up to now, noting that it’s “finalising some vital updates that shall be introduced to trace within the opening rounds of the championship, because the workforce intends to be a robust participant within the improvement race”.
Crew consultant Alessandro Alunni Bravi has mentioned the brand new inexperienced look is a part of a acutely aware effort to embrace change after the Alfa Romeo years and with the workforce constructing in direction of Audi’s entry.
“There is a new id for our workforce, as we enter as Stake F1 Crew,” mentioned the Italian. “We noticed loads of modifications, which makes this such an thrilling period for us.
“This partnership will assist us attain a brand new viewers and develop our fan base. It additionally offers us a strategy to have a recent and progressive strategy in the best way we talk.
“There are modifications in different areas. We’re creating our workforce construction, strengthening our personnel, and this means work is ongoing in Hinwil in all areas. It is a new thrilling period for our workforce.”
Sauber C44
Photograph by: Sauber F1 Crew
Alunni Bravi has mentioned that the workforce has developed an improved automobile – though there was comparable optimism within the camp final yr – whereas acknowledging that the C44’s potential can solely be judged towards the progress made by rivals.
“Being at the beginning of this new period does not imply we’ll get higher efficiency instantly,” he mentioned. “Every thing we’ve got finished throughout this winter, nonetheless, makes us optimistic that we will make a step ahead.
“Now we have labored laborious underneath the route of our new technical director, James Key, to develop our venture and our automobile in all areas, taking extra excessive choices, and attempting to enhance each single element.
“The brand new technical group made a step ahead. On the similar time, although, we’re life like. We have to see what the opposite groups, our opponents, have finished throughout the winter.
“We all know that we’ve got improved, and we are going to quickly see if this enchancment is sufficient to compete for a greater place.”
Alunni Bravi has burdened that every one facets of the workforce are being addressed throughout the transition to the Audi period.
“These two years will see our workforce endure a giant transformation course of in direction of 2026, after we will change into the Audi works workforce,” he mentioned.
“Our focus, although, is on the right here and now. We all know that it is very important lay the foundations of our workforce on daily basis. This is the reason we’re working very laborious to enhance all of the areas of our organisation, underneath the management of [CEO] Andreas Seidl.”
In its closing season as Alfa Romeo, the workforce claimed solely ninth within the World Championship, with a pair of eighth locations for Valtteri Bottas representing the very best outcomes. Alunni Bravi expects to see a greater efficiency this yr.
“We can’t talk about particular targets, as a result of it is all the time tough to decide to numbers,” he famous. “Our targets are clear – to enhance the efficiency of our automobile and our package deal.
“By package deal, I imply each space, from the race workforce to the operations on observe, the pit stops, the technique.
“It is extra than simply the automobile efficiency, and we’re dedicated in all departments to make this step, that is the goal.”
