Photo: Sauber/autoevolution
The Sauber F1 Team, formerly known as Alfa Romeo, has unveiled its C44 race car for the 2024 Formula 1 season, with drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu in attendance. The C44 features what the outfit calls an “aggressively redesigned” aerodynamic package, to go with its shiny new pull-rod front suspension.
May I just say, thank you Sauber. Thank you for not doing just a livery reveal, like Williams did yesterday. The C44 race car you’re looking at here might not represent a final product, but its Red Bull and McLaren-inspired redesign is more than obvious.
The Swiss outfit is in its first season alongside Stake as a sole title sponsor, and between now and when Audi is set to take over in 2026, they’ve decided to build a car that looks “the part” from all standpoints – hence the fluo green and black livery.
Why this colorway? Well, the so-called Fluo Racing Green is a shiny, viridescent hue that’s sure to act as an eye-catcher out on the track. Sauber made a point as to say this is not a tribute to the past, but rather a nod to a new and exciting future. This is like if some of those NASCAR sponsors decided to design the livery for Sauber.
The car looks good, and it makes you wonder why more F1 teams don’t come up with high-contrasting liveries. A bright shade of green was a no-brainer, so how about bright yellow (like in the good old Jordan days), and let’s get some purple or pink up in there. Just saying.
“The C44 project was already running before I joined the team, of course. I joined in the middle of it, so I have to give credit to the team, who have done a fantastic job,” said technical director, James Key.
“The front suspension is completely new, a tough and ambitious project for a team of our size, there are many aerodynamic changes, too, as would be expected given that this remains the primary area of development – so, overall, the car will really look quite different to last year’s car.”
Regarding the suspension, they went from a push-rod to a pull-rod design, much like Red Bull and McLaren, so expect to see some aero gains over there as well. Meanwhile, the aero package (see the new sidepods and engine cover) forced Sauber to redesign many of the car’s internals. There’s going to be a completely new floor too, but that’s something we can’t see just yet.
When can we see the C44 out on the track? It’ll take part in a filming day in Barcelona prior to preseason testing in Bahrain (Feb 21-23). As for what we can expect from them this year, well, hopefully better results. They finished the 2023 F1 season second-to-last in the Constructors Standings with just 16 points, 4 points clear of Haas and 9 points shy of AlphaTauri. Pretty much No Man’s Land.
The Swiss outfit is in its first season alongside Stake as a sole title sponsor, and between now and when Audi is set to take over in 2026, they’ve decided to build a car that looks “the part” from all standpoints – hence the fluo green and black livery.
Why this colorway? Well, the so-called Fluo Racing Green is a shiny, viridescent hue that’s sure to act as an eye-catcher out on the track. Sauber made a point as to say this is not a tribute to the past, but rather a nod to a new and exciting future. This is like if some of those NASCAR sponsors decided to design the livery for Sauber.
The car looks good, and it makes you wonder why more F1 teams don’t come up with high-contrasting liveries. A bright shade of green was a no-brainer, so how about bright yellow (like in the good old Jordan days), and let’s get some purple or pink up in there. Just saying.
“The C44 project was already running before I joined the team, of course. I joined in the middle of it, so I have to give credit to the team, who have done a fantastic job,” said technical director, James Key.
“The front suspension is completely new, a tough and ambitious project for a team of our size, there are many aerodynamic changes, too, as would be expected given that this remains the primary area of development – so, overall, the car will really look quite different to last year’s car.”
Regarding the suspension, they went from a push-rod to a pull-rod design, much like Red Bull and McLaren, so expect to see some aero gains over there as well. Meanwhile, the aero package (see the new sidepods and engine cover) forced Sauber to redesign many of the car’s internals. There’s going to be a completely new floor too, but that’s something we can’t see just yet.
When can we see the C44 out on the track? It’ll take part in a filming day in Barcelona prior to preseason testing in Bahrain (Feb 21-23). As for what we can expect from them this year, well, hopefully better results. They finished the 2023 F1 season second-to-last in the Constructors Standings with just 16 points, 4 points clear of Haas and 9 points shy of AlphaTauri. Pretty much No Man’s Land.
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