Fernando Alonso stated that “facts” are stronger than Helmut Marko’s critique of Gabriel Bortoleto, who excelled during qualifying for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

Bortoleto is managed by Alonso’s A14 enterprise and the Brazilian arrives in F1 following back-to-back rookie title wins in Formula 3 and F2.

Despite this, Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko listed Bortoleto as a ‘B driver’ in conversation with Servus TV, but the Sauber driver did some talking on the track on Saturday.

Despite driving for the un-fancied Sauber squad, Bortoleto progressed to Q2 at the Albert Park circuit, at the expense of his highly-rated one-lap specialist team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, along with Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson.

Marko was comparing Bortoleto to his F2 title rival and Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, who he rated as an ‘A-level’ driver, but Alonso acknowledged that both are great talents, implying Marko’s judgement was flawed.

“I think Helmut has to defend his drivers,” the veteran Spaniard said. 

“I think the facts are a little bit stronger than Helmut’s words.

“I think maybe it refers to last year’s F2 [battle] with Isack and Gabriel. 

“They finished 1-2, they both have incredible talent, and they both are in F1, which is a great sign. Let’s see what the future brings.

“I hope for both to have a very long and successful career, but what Gabriel did, winning F3 and F2 in his rookie seasons… I think the future will tell, but I’m happy and proud of Gabriel.”

Bortoleto defiantly ready to prove Marko wrong

Bortoleto’s initial response to Marko’s comments on Thursday was that “nothing I say now in the media will change his mind, just my results on track.”

It’s a stance that the Brazilian respectfully reiterated this after qualifying on Saturday.

“Yeah, maybe he will check the lap timing today, but as I said before and I stick to the same, his opinion is not going to change my life, I will hopefully prove him wrong with time,” he said. 

“Maybe today was already a start of it and as I said before and I stick to the same, everyone can have opinions, headlines can be very tough and I’m sure I’m going to prove him wrong with time.”

Bortoleto was unable to progress beyond Q2, finishing 15th with a mistake costing him a higher place.

“I made a mistake in my lap, I tried a bit too hard on T4, ended up running a bit too much the kerb there and let’s say skateboarding a bit the car, initially was not even sure I could keep it still on track, was a bit too risky there,” he said. 

“I knew that to put the car maybe further away, maybe even in Q3 that was very tricky today because I don’t think we had the pace to, I needed to make a perfect lap that ended up as a no lap. 

“[I was] quite happy with Q1, still a solid result there and a solid first quali ever in my career in F1.”

READ MORE – Gabriel Bortoleto fires back at Helmut Marko criticism ahead of F1 debut

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Sauber Formula 1 rookie Gabriel Bortoleto has hit back at criticism made by Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko ahead of his debut at the Australian Grand Prix.

Bortoleto joins Sauber having stamped his name in the record books as a back-to-back rookie champion in Formula 3 and 2.

Still, despite the Brazilian showing championship winning pedigree, Marko has made scathing comments about the Sauber debutante. 

Marko rated Bortoleto as a “B driver’ in conversation with Servus TV, praising the Brazilian’s intelligence but casting doubts over his raw speed.

Naturally then, Bortoleto was quizzed on those remarks during his first media day as an F1 driver down under in Melbourne, Australia and he was defiant.

“I don’t care,” he began, telling select media including Motorsport Week “I’ve seen that and I love challenges. 

“Hearing that from Helmut, he’s a guy who has put a lot of talent in Formula 1 and has put a lot of wrong talents in F1. 

“So you can see he got it right and wrong and hopefully I will prove him wrong with the time. 

“But nothing I say now in the media will change his mind, just my results on track. 

“I’m sure I’ll prove him wrong at some point and hopefully he will admit this when I prove him wrong. 

“For now I’m just focussing on doing my job and improving and doing the best I can.”

Bortoleto concluded his defiant response by saying his title victories in the junior categories meant he’s beaten several of Marko’s Red Bull junior prospects. 

“I’m proud of what I did in the junior series and I won in F2 and F3 against the Red Bull drivers he has, so good for me,” the Sauber driver retorted.

Alonso: Bortoleto is ‘the best’ of F1’s rookies

Two drivers in the F1 paddock are well aware of what Bortoleto can bring to the table and those are his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg and manager Fernando Alonso.

“I think we get on really well – he’s a really nice guy, a smart kid, fast as hell,” Hulkenberg said, reflecting on pre-season testing.

“He learns really quickly. He did his first race sim here [Bahrain] at the test, so I look forward to work alongside him.”

Bortoleto is represented by Alonso’s A14 Management group and the veteran Spaniard has always been glowing in his praise of the young charger, citing his “dedication” and classing him the top talent among F1’s five rookies.

“His dedication and his professionalism towards racing has been probably the most impressive thing,” Alonso said.

“Since day one he was very committed to work hard for his dreams and already in Formula Regional Europe but then in Formula 3 and then Formula 2, each race was very well prepared and a very mature approach.

“He deserves to be in Formula 1 and hopefully a long career here and successful.

“He has been the best rookie of this next generation. We see so many rookies into F1 this year and he has been the best of them.

“Maybe he hasn’t had the car at the moment to match their results the first year but hopefully people don’t forget what he did in the last two.”

READ MORE – Nico Hulkenberg expecting test from ‘fast as hell’ Sauber F1 team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto

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Sauber has confirmed that incoming Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley will join the Swiss-based Formula 1 outfit on April 1 ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Wheatley left his long-serving role as Red Bull Sporting Director at the end of 2024, following a summer announcement that he’d be heading up the Sauber squad ahead of its transformation into Audi.

Originally Wheatley’s gardening leave was expected to run through until the summer but reports in January rumoured that the former Red Bull man would indeed be in Sauber colours in time for the Japanese GP, Round 3 of the 2025 F1 campaign.

Sauber has confirmed that speculation is true and Wheatley is just weeks away from taking on his new role.

Per a team announcement, Sauber revealed that Wheatley and CTO/COO Mattia Binotto will be jointly responsible for the success of the organisation.

“In their respective positions, both Binotto and Wheatley report directly to Gernot Döllner in his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sauber Motorsport AG,” the team statement read. 

“Binotto and Wheatley are together jointly responsible for the success of the racing team, under a structure that empowers both leaders with clearly defined roles and deliverables.”

Wheatley and Binotto looking forward to Sauber working relationship

When Sauber announced Wheatley would be taking on the mantle of Team Principal in 2025, he expressed looking forward to collaborating with Binotto along with leading Audi into F1.

“The opportunity to play an active part in Audi’s entry into Formula 1 as head of a factory team is a uniquely exciting prospect, and I am looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

“Also I am glad to be working together with Mattia, whom I have known for many years and who is the right person to collaborate with in this exciting project.“

Those feelings were reciprocated by Binotto, who said: “I have known Jonathan for many years and rate him highly as an experienced and committed motorsport expert.

“2026 is not a long time away now, and I’m looking forward to setting up the new racing team for Audi along with Jonathan and leading it to success.“

Döllner added “With the appointment of Jonathan and Mattia we have taken a decisive step towards our entry into Formula 1.

“I am convinced that with the two of them, we have been able to combine an extremely high level of competence for Audi.

“Their experience and their ability will help us to get a foothold quickly in the tough competitive world of Formula 1.“

READ MORE – Christian Horner denies Red Bull undergoing F1 ‘rebuild’ despite staff exits

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Nico Hulkenberg has commended new team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto, describing him as “fast as hell”, as the pair begin life at Sauber ahead of the new Formula 1 season.

Hulkenberg and Bortoleto complete one of the opposite pairings this year, with the veteran of 230 Grands Prix signed alongside the rookie and reigning Formula 2 champion, the Swiss team’s final driver roster before it fully transitions into the works Audi project for 2026.

Such was the Brazilian’s performances for Invicta Racing in the premier feeder series last year, that Sauber sought to spring him from his contract in McLaren’s Driver Development Programme and hire him ahead of other potential candidates.

Asked by F1’s official website how the burgeoning partnership has been going so far, Hulkenberg had nothing but praise for his new partner.

“Very good. I think we get on really well – he’s a really nice guy, a smart kid, fast as hell!

“He learns really quickly. He did his first race sim here [Bahrain] at the test, so I look forward to work alongside him.”

Things ‘progressing well’ for Sauber ahead of 2025 campaign

Hulkenberg is making his second bow for Sauber this year, having spent the 2013 season with the Hinwil-based squad in-between stints with Force India.

However, there is all change from then to now, with former Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto – now Sauber’s Chief Technical Officer – taking the reins of the team for the opening two rounds before the commencement of former Red Bull Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley in the role.

Hulkenberg, who has joined from Haas, spoke of his contentment within the team, having embedded himself into the working environment since the New Year, despite admitting he has “no idea” where it currently is compared to its rivals.

“It’s going well. We’ve been working together since January, had many factory days, simulator days. Obviously now [this is] our first time at track, but I think on that side things are progressing well.

“I enjoy working with the engineers in the office, with Mattia [Binotto], with everyone in the garage and back in the factory. When you change team, there’s so many things to explore and discover – one of the nice things when you change team, compared to when you’re with a team that you’re settled in.

“Lots of things to discover, everything’s new, and it’s like a new relationship! It’s an exciting, interesting phase now.”

READ MORE – Nico Hulkenberg: New Sauber UK hub ‘opens doors’ for Audi F1 project

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Nico Hulkenberg is encouraged by the news Sauber is opening a Formula 1 hub in the United Kingdom, believing it will “open doors” for top talent to join the team as it transitions into the Audi works outfit.

Audi’s takeover of Sauber means the team will transform into the German marque’s first F1 entry in 2026, and a lot of work needs to be done to mould the outfit into a squad worthy of the four rings.

One thing that has held Sauber back during its time in F1 is its Swiss base, which makes it hard to tempt top F1 employees from the widely regarded hot-bed of talent in the UK’s ‘Motorsport Valley’.

The increased cost of living in Switzerland has even led to Sauber being granted more freedom in the cost cap to make it more competitive in hiring staff.

To further combat this, Sauber announced plans in February that it will open a technical centre in the UK to help attract top staff from the region.

Sauber is evaluating sites in Bicester, Silverstone, and Milton Keynes and intends to commence work on its UK hub this Summer, which will put it right in the heart of F1’s British nucleus, in proximity to eight rival teams. 

The move means only Ferrari will remain as a team without a UK base of some sort and Sauber’s new team leader Hulkenberg regards it as a positive move.

“I think it’s helpful, it builds a bridge and it just opens doors for people that don’t want to relocate with family,” the German told select media including Motorsport Week ahead of F1 75. 

“You have that whole life, changing situation of where they live, so definitely I think that’s a positive thing and will offer good opportunities going forward in the future.”

UK base is a major step for Sauber’s Audi transition

Establishing a UK base is one of the major steps Sauber has implemented since Mattia Binotto was installed as COO and CTO to usher in the F1 era of Audi.

At the time of the announcement, Binotto said: “We are excited to establish our technical centre in the UK to complement our key site in Hinwil, which will continue to lead our main engineering operations and experience the largest team growth. 

“Expanding into the UK allows us to remain close to one of the world’s most dynamic motorsport ecosystems. 

“Our vision is to create a strong, collaborative network across Hinwil and the UK, driving innovation and performance.”

It’s a model employed by several of Sauber’s rivals, most notably Haas, which has run its operation across North Carolina, USA, Banbury in the UK and Maranello, Italy.

Racing Bulls operates between Faenza, Italy and recently moved its aerodynamics department from Bicester to Milton Keynes, but has since stated that new hires can choose between working in either base or both.

As global as F1 has become, it’s still hard to get away from the fact the bulk of engineering talent resides in the UK so Sauber’s decision was an important step in its Audi transformation, but Binotto has acknowledged the sheer scale of the task ahead.

“It’s a complete business transformation, from a non-winning team to a winning one, working on tools, methodologies, processes, teams, skills, facilities, culture, and behaviours,” said the Italian.

“There is a lot ahead of us, but everything is planned and on track. 

“Yes, we expect to do better in 2025, and there will be high expectations for 2026, but we must be patient because it’s a long journey. 

“The team is enthusiastic about this ambitious challenge, and it will be achieved step by step, through continuous improvement.”

READ MORE – Exclusive: Nico Hulkenberg expresses ‘pride’ at joining Audi F1 venture

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Sauber boss Mattia Binotto has described Audi’s impending expansion into Formula 1 as the “most ambitious, challenging and greatest” venture across the entire series.

Binotto is heading up Audi’s nascent F1 project in his role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Sauber having been appointed to replace the axed Andreas Seidl last August.

The German marque has now taken over the Hinwil-based squad as it prepares to embark upon its F1 debut as a works team with a power unit built in-house in Germany.

Binotto hadn’t been involved in F1 since departing his role as Ferrari team boss in late 2022, but he admitted the prestige associated with Audi tempted him to return.

“I’m truly happy to be here today working towards Audi’s future in Formula One,” Binotto said. “I couldn’t have imagined being part of anything more exciting than this incredible project.

“The Audi F1 Project is, without a doubt, the most ambitious, challenging, and greatest on the grid now.

“It’s driven by Audi’s legacy, the fact that they have never participated in Formula One before, and their track record of success in anything they have done in the past.”

Audi working towards 2030 title target

Audi’s entrance in 2026 will coincide with a substantial overhaul to the technical rules which will grant the beleaguered team the chance to make inroads on its rivals ahead.

But with Sauber rooted to last place in the championship last season, Binotto has reiterated that the rebrand and an Audi powertrain won’t inspire immediate success.

However, the Swiss-Italian engineer has vowed that he wants to see Sauber continue to progress each season to remain on track towards its plan to mount a title bid in 2030.

“As we look toward the transition to Audi, there are high expectations,” he added.

“Many may expect Audi to be very strong in 2026 already, but we have clearly stated that our goal is to fight for a championship in 2030. It will take several seasons to be ready for that.

“What matters now is progressing each season and developing from now until 2030.

“Our immediate objectives don’t conflict with our long-term goals; it’s about setting the right targets for 2025, 2026, 2027, and beyond.

“We hope to start by improving in 2025 compared to 2024: these are our clear targets.

“We are guiding our future with a strategic plan in place. It’s a complete business transformation, from a non-winning team to a winning one, working on tools, methodologies, processes, teams, skills, facilities, culture, and behaviours.

“There is a lot ahead of us, but everything is planned and on track.

“Yes, we expect to do better in 2025, and there will be high expectations for 2026, but we must be patient because it’s a long journey.

“The team is enthusiastic about this ambitious challenge, and it will be achieved step by step, through continuous improvement.”

READ MORE – Sauber showcases final F1 livery prior to Audi transition

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Sauber has showcased its final Formula 1 livery prior to its transition into the Audi works entry in 2026.

The Hinwil-based outfit unveiled the design scheme that it will sport across the upcoming campaign at the F1 75 season launch event alongside the other nine incumbent teams at London’s O2.

Sauber’s special twist for the evening was that the show car, made in collaboration with Memento Exclusives to display the new livery was auctioned off by F1 Authentics to a lucky bidder earlier in the day.

The design comprises an evolution of the carbon and fluorescent green colour scheme that debuted in 2024, the first season of Sauber’s title partnership with Stake.

For this season’s design, the fluorescent green is apparent on the monocoque and nosecone, with black on the sidepods.

It was a season to forget as Sauber failed to register a point in all but one Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the season in Qatar and thus remained rooted to the foot of the Constructors’ standings.

Behind the wheel of the Sauber C45 is the team’s new driver pairing of Nico Hulkenberg and reigning Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, who unveiled the squad’s new-look race suits last week.

The Chief Operating Officer of Sauber Mattia Binotto said in a press release: “The C45 is the culmination of months of dedication and hard work by our entire team.

“Every department has played a crucial role in developing this car, and we are extremely proud of what we have achieved, but we know this is just the beginning.

“Formula One is a constant race of development, often a case of who gets there first, and our focus will now shifts to extracting performance and building on the strong foundation we have set.”

Hulkenberg last drove for Sauber back in 2013 and the German driver is excited to reunite with his former team.

“A new team brings many changes, and countless small details need to be fine tuned, which is why I’m pleased with how productive our first few weeks together have been,” he said.

“I’ve recognized some familiar faces from my first time with Sauber, but a lot has changed in the last ten years – and continues to evolve.

“There’s a great spirit in the team right now, and of course, we’re all focused on improving from last year.”

Bortoleto graduated from F2 as a World Champion and is one of six rookies joining the 2025 grid.

“We have put in a lot of hard work over the winter, and I have spent a great deal of time in the factory – in the simulator, with the team, and pushing myself to learn as much as possible for the season ahead,” Bortoleto explained.

“Although our testing days are limited, every lap is valuable in helping me adapt and prepare for the season ahead.

“I’m really excited to embark on this journey with the team.

“With all the effort we have put in, I believe the C45 has the potential to make a definite step forward.”

Sauber also used the livery launch to showcase its new partnership with cryptocurrency solutions organisation CoinPayments, whose logo sat proudly on the rear wing of the show car.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber for the 2025 season,” said Alexander Alexandrov, Founder and Chairman of CoinPayments.

“As Formula 1 gears up for its next adrenaline-packed chapter, we will be right there in the fast lane, pushing the boundaries of global digital payments—just like F1 pushes the limits of speed and innovation.”

As ever, Sauber will need to alternate its livery between Stake branding and streaming subsidiary Kick due to gambling restrictions in certain regions.

As a result, the Hinwil-based outfit will run an alternate livery in Australia, Belgium, Spain and Qatar.

READ MORE – Nico Hulkenberg: Sauber F1 return ‘going to be tough’

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Nico Hulkenberg has admitted 2025 will be a “building year” for Sauber in Formula 1 amid the struggles the team endured last season and the impending Audi transition.

Hulkenberg is opening a new chapter in his extensive career in the upcoming campaign, having elected to leave Haas to complete a switch to Sauber on a multi-term contract.  

The German’s move has seen him return to the Hinwil-based squad that he spent a sole season with in 2013 as it prepares to morph into the works Audi team in under 12 months.

Asked about his initial impressions since reuniting with Sauber, Hulkenberg told media including Motorsport Week at London’s O2 prior to the F1 75 season launch event: “Yeah, it’s been quite a few familiar faces, especially in the factory in Hinwil.

“I think the race team has changed quite a bit, but yeah, it’s obviously, you know, revives old memories from 2013. 

“But yeah, I arrived to the team and I think the atmosphere is pretty positive, pretty, you know, upbeat, keen and eager, ready to go.

“Obviously had a challenging season last year [for] the team, but they’re very motivated to turn things around and to have a really different story this year.”

Sauber car better than Hulkenberg expected

Sauber concluded the previous campaign rooted to last place in the Constructors’ Championship, three places and 54 points behind the Haas side Hulkenberg departed.

However, the beleaguered Hinwil-based squad produced a late upturn as a considerable upgrade package in Las Vegas ensured that it avoided a point-less season.

Hulkenberg has divulged the C44 car that he drove in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi wasn’t much less competitive than the Haas VF-24 he had been accustomed to.

“Yeah, obviously those problems were mainly in the first quarter of last season and I think, you know, they’ve really worked through most of them already last year, but there’s always room for improvement,” he explained.

“I think on the operational side things were pretty good by the end.

“Obviously car performance, you know, that’s a different subject, but having done the Abu Dhabi test, you know, I was, yeah, not surprised, but I think the car performance wasn’t that bad, wasn’t that far off from, you know, what I was previously used to. 

“I think the update that they brought to Las Vegas at the end of last year was a big step forward for them and you could see the trend was in the right trajectory and that’s obviously what we’re going to continue and try and do this season.”

Hulkenberg expecting slow progress in 2025

However, Hulkenberg has acknowledged that the Audi-owned team will be investing more attention in the impending rule change arriving in 2026 than the current campaign.

“I think it’s in some ways a building year,” he highlighted. 

“I think our target is to be competitive and to obviously score as many points as possible, but you always have to remember where we came from last year and so it’s a difficult kind of starting point.

“We’ve, the team and us, been pushing over the winter, but right now we can obviously only speculate where we are, where everybody else is, but for us the motto is head down, just push hard, work hard and maximise everything on and off track and go for the opportunities when they come. 

“It’s obviously a long road ahead, it’s the process started now and behind the scenes obviously many things already, ongoing with respect to next year, which is, yeah, a big thing and exciting, especially for myself. Being German, with a German manufacturer and works team, so yeah, a lot of things to look forward to and, yeah, look forward to get the season started soon.”

READ MORE – Exclusive: Nico Hulkenberg dismisses taking on Sauber mentor role to Gabriel Bortoleto

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Sauber Formula 1 title partner Stake has been ordered to shut down its UK website by the government’s gambling commission.

Stake, which entered a title partnership with Sauber last year, has come under fire from the UK gambling commission after a video on X (formerly Twitter) featuring a pornographic actress was presented with the company’s logo.

The commission has ordered Stake.uk.com to close next month and its operator TGP Europe Limited has come under fire from UK authorities before, having been fined £316,250 in 2023.

That charge resulted from failing to promote responsible gambling and prevent money laundering.

“The move follows the launch of a commission investigation into a widely viewed video displaying the Stake-branded logo, which was distributed on a social media platform and featured an adult actress outside Nottingham Trent University,” said the commission in a statement. 

“TGP has previously been the subject of enforcement action and after a meeting with the commission have stated they will immediately stop accepting new registrations to the Stake.uk.com platform and remove redirection links from the main Stake website.

“Final shutdown of the Great Britain site will take place by 11 March 2025.”

Premier League football club Everton, which features Stake as a shirt sponsor, will be approached by the commission regarding “the risks of promoting unlawful gambling websites.”

How will Stake’s punishment affect Sauber?

How this will affect Sauber is unknown, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see the outfit remove the Stake logo from its cars during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this July, a practice that has been adhered to on several occasions.

Due to gambling restrictions in several countries, Sauber switched out the Stake logo for streaming subsidiary Kick at the Australian, Spanish, Belgian, Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix.

It remains to be seen whether this has an impact on Sauber’s proposed development of a UK-based engineering hub.

Regardless, with Audi gearing up for its 2026 F1 debut amid its Sauber takeover, the Stake partnership is unlikely to carry over beyond this season.

The Audi takeover of Sauber comprises a large minority stake from the Qatar Investment Authority and a Qatari brand could very well find a prominent space on the German marque’s first F1 cars in 2026.

As a result, Audi will be able to distance itself from further Stake-based controversies.

READ MORE – Sauber to auction show car used to unveil 2025 F1 livery

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Sauber has announced that it will auction the show car that will be used to reveal the livery that the side will be sporting during the upcoming 2025 Formula 1 campaign.

The Hinwil-based squad will be present alongside the other nine teams at the O2 Arena in London on February 18 to unveil the colours that will adorn their 2025 cars.

F1 Authentics will open the auction prior to the landmark event to celebrate the sport’s 75th anniversary on February 11, with the highest bidder receiving the special prize.

“We are proud to continue strengthening our partnership with Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, having worked with them for many years now,” Barry Gough, CEO of Memento Exclusives, said.

“This launch car auction offers fans and collectors the chance to own a genuine piece of history, which will feature at the inaugural event held at O2 Arena.

“It’s also the first time all 10 teams have unveiled their liveries in one place, so to be contributing one of the featured cars is an honour.”

Sauber ‘thrilled’ to give collectors ‘a rare chance’

Sauber is expected to maintain the green and black colour combination that it debuted last season to resemble the team’s title partnership with casino company Stake.

However, the new campaign will mark the last time the side runs under the Sauber moniker as it morphs into Audi to coincide with the regulation change coming in 2026.

Sauber’s Chief Commercial Officer, Stefano Battiston, added: “We are thrilled to offer fans and collectors alike the opportunity to acquire a truly unique piece of F1 historic.

“Collaborating with Memento Exclusives to bring this car to life has been an incredible experience, and their commitment to detail ensures that it embodies the precision and craftsmanship that define Formula One.

“Through F1 Authentics, we are excited to launch this exclusive auction, giving collectors a rare chance to be part of the fabric of our sport.

“We look forward to unveiling this car and our new livery at the O2 Arena, marking the beginning of an exciting new season for the team.”

READ MORE – Sauber launches UK hub to support Audi F1 venture

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