A bit of history

The team now known as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber has one of Formula 1’s deepest and most quietly consistent legacies. Originally founded as Sauber in the early 1990s by Peter Sauber, the team earned a reputation for smart engineering and talent development. Over the years, it has partnered with multiple engine suppliers and brand identities — including a stint as BMW Sauber (2006–2009) and later as Alfa Romeo Racing (2019–2023).

In 2024, the team rebranded again under title sponsor Stake.com and secondary branding from Kick, ahead of an anticipated full transformation into the Audi factory team in 2026. Through it all, the Hinwil-based operation has remained fiercely independent and quietly effective, laying the groundwork for a major resurgence in the coming years.

2024 Season

Drivers: Valtteri Bottas & Zhou Guanyu

The newly rebranded Stake F1 Team struggles to make a performance leap. The C44 car shows flashes of midfield potential in qualifying but lacks race pace and consistency. Bottas remains a steady veteran presence, while Zhou continues to show potential, especially on street circuits. The team hovers near the back of the midfield, often battling with Haas and Williams. Behind the scenes, development is already geared toward the 2025 transition to Audi influence.

2023 Season

Drivers: Valtteri Bottas & Zhou Guanyu

The final season under the Alfa Romeo banner ends quietly. Performance remains inconsistent, with strong showings in qualifying not translating into race-day results. Bottas and Zhou each contribute points finishes, but the team ends P9 in the constructors’ standings, unable to keep up with AlphaTauri and Williams in the closing stretch. Strategic errors and technical limitations plague their progress.

2022 Season

Drivers: Valtteri Bottas & Zhou Guanyu

A promising start fades by mid-season. Bottas scores strong points early, including multiple top-ten finishes, while rookie Zhou impresses with a composed debut campaign. However, reliability and development fall off in the second half. Still, the team ends the season P6 in the constructors’ standings, tied on points with Aston Martin but ahead on countback — a respectable result and their best finish since the Sauber rebrand.