Sauber

Sauber is a Swiss motorsport company best known for its long-standing involvement in Formula One. The company was founded by Peter Sauber in 1970 and is based in Hinwil, Switzerland. Originally focused on designing and racing its own sports cars, Sauber entered Formula One as a constructor in 1993 with the Sauber C12, beginning a multi-decade presence in the sport. Over the years, the team built partnerships with major manufacturers and engine suppliers, including a period when it competed as BMW Sauber from 2006 to 2009.

From 2010 onward, the F1 operation continued under the Sauber banner, typically using engines supplied by Ferrari and maintaining a reputation as a competitive midfield team. In 2019 the team’s F1 entry was rebranded in line with sponsorship and branding agreements as Alfa Romeo Racing, aligning with the Alfa Romeo brand while continuing to operate as the Sauber Group’s F1 program. In 2023 the sponsorship landscape led to the team competing under the name Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake, reflecting a primary sponsor arrangement, while the Sauber Group remained the owner and technical base of the operation. The arrangement illustrates Sauber’s role as a persistent Swiss presence in Formula One and as a broader engineering and motorsport organization beyond the racetrack.

The term sauber also means clean or neat in German, which contributes to its use as a surname and as a brand name. The Sauber name has therefore become associated with Peter Sauber’s racing ventures and, more broadly, with Swiss automotive engineering and competition.