Why Did Sauber Leave F1
It's the end of an era, as Formula 1 waves goodbye to the Sauber name which has been ever-present since Peter Sauber brought his racing team to the world championship in 1993, after a successful foray in the World Sportscar Championship with Mercedes power. Aside from a four-year period between 2006 and 2009, when the team was sold to BMW, Sauber has raced as a proud F1 independent. Even.
The season finale at Yas Marina already promised tension, but one team quietly bid farewell to the sport forever as, for the last time in F1 history, the name Sauber appeared on the entry list. After more than 30 years in the sport, the Swiss team will be bowing out of the sport before its full transformation into Audi for 2026. There were a few tears and a proud Peter Sauber watching the cars.
Sauber was purchased by BMW in 2005 and raced as BMW Sauber F1 Team from 2006 to 2009. The team achieved its best Formula One results during this period, most notably winning the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix and finishing second in the 2007 World Constructor's Championship. Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft claims that the transition of Audi taking over Sauber "isn't going particularly smoothly." The German automaker is.
Valtteri Bottas has explained that talks regarding him remaining in F1 with Sauber beyond 2024 broke down as the "conditions to grow together were not met". Why are Sauber leaving F1? Sauber are leaving to make way for Audi, who will complete their takeover of the team ahead of 2026. The takeover was announced all the way back in 2023, before it was revealed to be a 100 per cent takeover in March 2024.
Alfa Romeo has decided to leave F1 at the end of the 2023 F1 season. The Italian automotive giants left the sport following their five-year partnership with Sauber. Now, with Alfa Romeo's exit as the title sponsor, the team will now be called Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber instead.
The Swiss company announced their final name for the 2024 F1 entry with the FIA recently. Nevertheless, it is. The Swiss team will leave the sport after over 30 years Audi take over Sauber Sauber CEO Andreas Siedl will remain in his post with the team as 'the face' of the operation, while Audi's head of technical development Oliver Hoffman will be above Siedl as the company's board's general representative for the team.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2006/01/17/242531-24607685-2560-1440.jpg "BMW unveil first F1 car - Eurosport")
Valtteri Bottas will leave Sauber at the end of the current season, as will Zhou Guanyu, with both their replacements already announced for next year. Sauber was part of F1 since 1993 under various names, operated by Sauber Motorsport AG. Its final season was in 2025 before it became Audi F1.