Sauber
Sauber
Founded
1970
Founders
Peter Sauber
Country
Switzerland
Headquarters
Hinwil, Zürich
Sauber
Founded
1970
Founders
Peter Sauber
Country
Switzerland
Headquarters
Hinwil, Zürich
About this brand
Discover the history
Sauber Motorsport’s story began in 1970, when Peter Sauber built his first race car, the Sauber C1, marking the start of his career in motorsport. Based in Hinwil, Switzerland, Sauber originally focused on sports car racing. Peter Sauber won the Swiss sports car championship with the C1, and this early success spurred the creation of PP Sauber AG. By the mid-1970s, Sauber gained international recognition with the C5, which took victory in the Interserie championship.
Throughout the 1980s, Sauber forged an important relationship with Mercedes-Benz, which helped power Sauber-built racing cars. This partnership reached its peak in the late 1980s when the team won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1989 and secured two consecutive World Sports Car Championship titles in 1989 and 1990. Sauber was also instrumental in helping young drivers, such as Michael Schumacher, rise through the ranks of motorsport.
In the early 1990s, Sauber turned its attention to Formula One, entering the sport in 1993. Initially, Sauber ran with Ilmor engines, but partnerships with Ford, Ferrari, and Petronas in the mid-1990s helped the team cement its place in Formula One. Though never a front-running team, Sauber became a respected and consistent competitor in the sport. During this period, Sauber also maintained close ties with Ferrari, utilizing their engines and technical support.
In 2005, BMW bought a majority stake in Sauber, transforming the team into BMW Sauber. The BMW era saw some strong performances, with Robert Kubica securing the team’s first and only Formula One win at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. However, BMW withdrew from Formula One at the end of 2009, leaving Sauber to regain control of the team. Sauber continued to compete as an independent team in Formula One, achieving consistent midfield results.
In 2018, Sauber entered into a partnership with Alfa Romeo, and the team was rebranded as Alfa Romeo Racing. Despite this change in name, the team still operates out of Sauber’s facilities in Hinwil and continues to compete in Formula One under the Alfa Romeo name, with Ferrari engines. Sauber remains one of the longest-standing independent constructors in the sport, known for its technical expertise, advanced wind tunnel facilities, and contributions to the development of young drivers.
Throughout its history, Sauber has been a key player in multiple forms of motorsport, from sports car racing to Formula One, showcasing Swiss precision and engineering on the global stage.
