As the Alfa Romeo branding fades away, Sauber braces for a transformative 2024 season with what driver Valtteri Bottas describes as a much-needed overhaul. “A completely new car,” as Bottas puts it, is not just a desire but a necessity for this team gearing up for a future that might hold more than just a name change.
At a recent awards ceremony in London, Sauber’s ‘team representative’ Alessandro Alunni Bravi teased an impending announcement set for this Sunday, hinting that the 2024 season could see Sauber sporting a name that might “surprise” fans and pundits alike. This change, potentially introducing a new title and naming sponsor, signifies more than a rebranding; it’s a strategic pivot as the team prepares for the anticipated Audi takeover in 2026. Bravi underlines this transition, clarifying, “It’s not that there is a separation between the Sauber period and the Audi period,” confirming his recent discussions with Audi officials in Germany.
Reflecting on the 2023 season, Bravi acknowledged the team’s struggles, with Bottas and his teammate Guanyu Zhou steering Sauber to just above the bottom in the constructors’ championship. But with an eye on the future, Bravi revealed at the Abu Dhabi season finale that a “completely new car” is in the pipeline for 2024. Bottas, endorsing this move, stated, “that is exactly what we need”.
The Finnish driver reminisced about the season’s start as the only highlight in a year that otherwise proved challenging. “Highlights? I think, sadly, it was the first race of the season. Everything was looking quite good,” Bottas recollected, expressing his anticipation for more memorable moments in 2024 with the new car.
Bottas candidly admitted that the 2023-spec car left much to be desired and that comprehensive improvements are essential for the upcoming season. “The good thing is that we will have a completely new car with some new ideas with new people in the team and that’s exactly what we need now,” he asserted. “We need to make big steps over the winter.”
One key issue Bottas highlighted was the team’s inability to keep pace with in-season development, a critical factor in F1’s highly competitive environment. “We brought upgrades pretty consistently all through the year like every team but we didn’t find anything big,” he said, noting that while Sauber made steady progress, other teams leapfrogged with significant advancements. “Some might be copying other teams but while we did steady progress, in this sport, that’s not enough. That’s why I’m really pleased that we’re trying to think a bit outside the box now, also with all the new people who are coming on board.”
