Sauber F1 Team History Overview (1970-2025): From Independent Constructor to Audi Operation

• Races entered: 513 (510 starts)
• Engines: Sauber, Mercedes, Ford, Petronas, BMW , Ferrari
• Constructors Championships: 0
• Drivers’ Championships: 0
• Race victories: 1
• Podiums: 28
• Points: 939
• Pole positions: 1
• Fastest laps: 5

Sauber Motorsport was founded in 1970 by Peter Sauber in Hinwil, Switzerland, initially focusing on sports car racing rather than single-seater competition. Operating as PP Sauber AG, the team developed its first car, the Sauber C1, outside the traditional European motorsport centres.

The “C” designation – still used for Sauber Formula 1 chassis today – originated during this period. Early success in Swiss and European sports car championships established Sauber as a technically capable constructor, despite Switzerland’s limited domestic racing infrastructure.

By the early 1980s, Sauber had earned international credibility, enabling collaborations with major automotive manufacturers.

Sauber’s collaboration with Mercedes-Benz during the Group C era marked its first period of global prominence. Initially informal due to Mercedes’ long-standing absence from international motorsport, the partnership became official in 1988, with Sauber designated as Mercedes-Benz’s works team.

The programme culminated in:

• Overall victory at the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans
• Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in the World Sports Car Championship

This period also influenced Formula 1 indirectly. Sauber played a central role in developing the Mercedes Junior Team, which included Michael Schumacher, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, and Karl Wendlinger – all of whom progressed to Formula 1.

The technical expertise gained during this era directly enabled Sauber’s move into Grand Prix racing.

The Sauber F1 Team entered the Formula 1 World Championship in 1993, following Mercedes’ withdrawal from a planned works entry. Rather than abandon the project, Peter Sauber proceeded independently, using Ilmor-built V10 engines supported indirectly by Mercedes.

The debut season exceeded expectations. Sauber scored points in its first race and finished seventh in the Constructors’ Championship, an unusually strong result for a new entrant.

In 1994, the team made a lasting contribution to Formula 1 safety. After Karl Wendlinger’s accident at the Monaco Grand Prix, Sauber introduced higher cockpit sidewalls to improve head protection. The concept was later mandated by the FIA and remains a foundation of modern cockpit safety design.

Mercedes ended its association with Sauber at the end of the season, but the team had established itself as a permanent fixture on the grid.

The following decade defined Sauber’s identity as a technically efficient independent team operating through strategic partnerships. Short-term engine agreements with Ford were followed by a long-term technical relationship with Ferrari, managed via Sauber Petronas Engineering.

From 1997 to 2005, Sauber ran Ferrari-based V10 engines branded as Petronas units while also licensing key mechanical components. This approach allowed the team to remain competitive without the budget of a full works operation.

The period peaked in 2001, when Sauber finished fourth in the Constructors’ Championship with Nick Heidfeld and rookie Kimi Räikkönen. Räikkönen’s rapid progression reinforced Sauber’s reputation as one of Formula 1’s most effective talent developers.

In 2006, BMW acquired a controlling stake in the team, creating the BMW Sauber F1 Team. For the first time, Sauber operated as a full works constructor with manufacturer-level resources.

Performance improved rapidly:

• Fifth in the Constructors’ Championship in 2006
• Second overall in 2007
• Victory at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, the team’s only Formula 1 win

Despite this success, strategic misjudgements proved costly. BMW shifted development focus early to the 2009 regulations, resulting in an uncompetitive car. Amid the global financial crisis, BMW announced its withdrawal from Formula 1 in July 2009.

Peter Sauber reacquired the team, preserving the Hinwil operation but returning it to independent status. While the 2012 season delivered four podium finishes with Sergio Pérez and Kamui Kobayashi, ongoing financial limitations increasingly restricted development.

The most visible crisis occurred in 2015, when a contractual dispute with Giedo van der Garde nearly resulted in legal enforcement action during the Australian Grand Prix weekend. The episode highlighted the structural challenges facing independent teams in modern Formula 1.

In 2016, Sauber was acquired by Longbow Finance, stabilising finances and enabling long-term planning. A title partnership with Alfa Romeo followed in 2018, returning the historic brand to Formula 1 branding.

Although Alfa Romeo’s involvement was primarily commercial, the period coincided with improved competitiveness and the debut of Charles Leclerc, who delivered the team’s strongest results since 2012.

Throughout this phase, the Sauber F1 Team continued to operate from Hinwil while using Ferrari power units and selected technical components.

In August 2022, Audi confirmed its entry into Formula 1 as a power unit manufacturer for the 2026 regulations and selected Sauber as its partner. In 2024, Audi acquired 100% ownership of Sauber Holding AG, ending the team’s independent era.

The project is structured across three locations:

• Hinwil, Switzerland – chassis development and race operations
• Neuburg an der Donau, Germany – power unit development
• United Kingdom – technical support and recruitment

Audi has stated that its objective is to become competitive in the late 2020s, aligned with Formula 1’s revised hybrid power unit regulations.

Sauber history demonstrates the long-term value of infrastructure, continuity, and technical culture in Formula 1. Unlike teams built around short-term success, Sauber has endured regulatory changes, ownership transitions, and financial instability while maintaining a continuous presence on the grid.

As Formula 1 increasingly favours manufacturer-backed operations, Sauber’s transition into Audi’s factory team reflects the sport’s broader direction. The Hinwil organisation now represents one of the most strategically significant long-term projects in Formula 1.

From its beginnings in Swiss sports car racing to its role as Audi’s Formula 1 foundation, Sauber history is defined by adaptation rather than dominance. The Sauber F1 Team has operated under more identities than almost any other constructor, yet remained one of the championship’s most enduring organisations.

As of the end of the 2025 Formula 1 season, the Hinwil-based operation is fully owned by Audi and positioned to enter its first competitive season as a factory Formula 1 team under the 2026 regulations.

When did Sauber Motorsport enter Formula 1?

Sauber entered Formula 1 in 1993, debuting at the South African Grand Prix.

Has Sauber ever won a Formula 1 race?

Yes. Sauber won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix with Robert Kubica during the BMW Sauber era.

Why is Sauber becoming Audi’s Formula 1 team?

Audi selected Sauber due to its established infrastructure, wind tunnel facilities, and long-term presence in Formula 1, aligning with the 2026 regulations.

Is Sauber still an independent team?

No. As of 2024, Audi owns 100% of Sauber Holding AG, making it a factory operation.

Where is Sauber Motorsport based?

Sauber Motorsport is based in Hinwil, Switzerland, where chassis development and race operations are conducted.