Kick Sauber C44

Last updated

Kick Sauber C44
2024-08-24 Motorsport, Formel 1, Grosser Preis der Niederlande 2024 STP 3314 by Stepro.jpg
Zhou Guanyu driving a C44 during the Dutch Grand Prix
Category Formula One
Constructor Kick Sauber
Designer(s) James Key (Technical Director) [1]
Eric Gandelin (Chief Designer)
Lucia Conconi (Head of Vehicle Performance)
Alessandro Cinelli (Head of Aerodynamics)
Franck Sanchez (Chief Aerodynamicist)
Predecessor Alfa Romeo C43
Technical specifications
Suspension (front)Carbon fibre double wishbone, pullrod-activated inboard torsion springs, rockers and Öhlins damper units
Suspension (rear)Carbon fibre double wishbone, pushrod-activated inboard torsion springs, rockers and Öhlins damper units
Engine Ferrari 066/12
1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine limited to 15,000 rpm in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout 1.6 L (98 cu in) V6 (90°) turbocharged, 15,000 rpm limited
Electric motor Ferrari Kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
Transmission Sauber carbon fibre maincase with Ferrari cassette containing eight forward speeds and one reverse 8-speed + 1 reverse sequential seamless semi-automatic paddle shift
BatteryLithium-ion battery
Weight798 kg (1,759 lb)
Fuel Zero Petroleum
Lubricants Sunoco
Brakes Ventilated carbon Brembo brake discs and pads with an electronically controlled hydraulic system for the rear brakes (Brake by Wire). Brembo monobloc calipers in nickel-plated aluminium alloy. Brembo tandem brake master cylinder
Tyres Pirelli P Zero (dry)
Pirelli Cinturato (wet)
Clutch Carbon Composite
Competition history
Notable entrants Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
Notable drivers
Debut 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last event 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
RacesWins Podiums Poles F/Laps
240000

The Kick Sauber C44 is a Formula One car designed and constructed by Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber to compete in the 2024 Formula One World Championship. The car was driven by Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, both in their third and final year with the team. It was the first Sauber-badged Formula One car since the Sauber C37 in 2018. Although featuring significant design differences to its predecessor, the Alfa Romeo C43, and despite numerous upgrades being introduced throughout the season, the C44 exhibited consistently poor performance and reliability, and Kick Sauber finished last in the World Constructors' Championship standings. Having not scored points for a majority of the season, Zhou scored the team's maiden points at the Qatar Grand Prix, which ended up being the team's highest finishing position of the season.

Contents

Background

Development context

The Kick Sauber C44 is the first car to be fielded by Kick Sauber since the end of their partnership with Alfa Romeo in 2023.

The C44's design began under Jan Monchaux, but he was replaced by James Key in August 2023. [2]

Initial design

Key said the C44 was "virtually a completely new car", sharing only some areas at its rear with its predecessor, the Alfa Romeo C43. [3] As with its predecessors, the C44 uses a Ferrari power unit and transmission, with the latter housed in a Sauber-designed and -manufactured casing. [2]

At launch, the C44 exhibited a shift towards Red Bull's design philosophy, featuring pull-rod front suspension (a design also used by McLaren, where it was introduced by Key on the MCL36), [4] a downwards-sloping sidepod, and squared off radiator inlets. [2] [5] Regulation changes regarding roll hoops led Sauber to adopt the conventional A-shaped design, one that had not previously used. [2] [6]

Livery

The departure of Alfa Romeo as a title sponsor and the adoption of Stake and Kick as title sponsors led to a new fluorescent green and black livery. [7] [3] The Stake logos are replaced by Kick's in countries where gambling sponsorships are outlawed. [8]

Competition and development history

Pre-season

The C44 was run for a filming day at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya before the official pre-season test at Bahrain International Circuit. [7]

Opening rounds

Bottas and Zhou on the grid during Sprint race of the Chinese Grand Prix Bottas & Zhou on the grid - Sprint race, Chinese GP 2024.jpg
Bottas and Zhou on the grid during Sprint race of the Chinese Grand Prix

A new front wing was introduced to the C44 at the Australian Grand Prix. [9]

At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Sauber introduced a new floor that was both lighter and featured longer fences, with the goal of increasing downforce generated by the ground effect. [10]

Mid-season rounds

A new rear wing was introduced at the Monaco Grand Prix. [10]

Sauber introduced new rear and beam wings for the Canadian Grand Prix, the former a refined version of that introduced in Monaco. [11]

Zhou reverted to an early-season chassis for the Spanish Grand Prix, although the team was uncertain if his issues were related to a defect with the chassis or if its upgrades were underperforming. [12]

Closing rounds

A new floor was fitted to the car at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, intended to direct the development of the team's 2025 car. [13]

Assessment and characteristics

The C44 exhibited poor tyre management early in the season, struggling to efficiently heat them in both qualifying and race settings. [14] When asked if the car struggled from a lack of rear-end grip, Zhou replied "It is everywhere, to be honest, just four-wheel sliding [...] we are just lacking grip." [15]

Audi, who purchased Sauber to transition it into its own Formula One team in 2026, said the C44's performance was unacceptably poor. [16]

Jake Boxall-Legge, writing for Autosport , claimed that the C44's poor performance was the result of Audi's fixation on its 2026 entry and neglect of Sauber since the team did not carry the Audi name. [17] Boxall-Legge said the C44 had started the 2024 season reasonably competitive and had numerous opportunities to score points, but these opportunities were squandered by repeated pit stop errors, and the car became less competitive as its rivals improved. [17]

Complete Formula One results

Key
Key
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenOther points position
BlueOther classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
PurpleNot classified, retired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (empty cell)
AnnotationMeaning
P Pole position
F Fastest lap
Superscript
number		Points-scoring position
in sprint
YearEntrantEngineTyresDriversGrands PrixPointsWCC
BHR SAU AUS JPN CHN MIA EMI MON CAN ESP AUT GBR HUN BEL NED ITA AZE SIN USA MXC SAP LVG QAT ABU
2024 Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber Ferrari
066/12
1.6 V6 t 		P Flag of Finland.svg Valtteri Bottas 19171414Ret161813131616151615191616161714131811Ret410th
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhou Guanyu 111815Ret141415161513171819Ret2018141519151513813
Source:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Kubica</span> Polish racing and rally driver (born 1984)

Robert Józef Kubica is a Polish racing and rally driver, who competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for AF Corse and in the European Le Mans Series for AO. Kubica competed in Formula One between 2006 and 2021, and the World Rally Championship from 2013 to 2016; he won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix with BMW Sauber, and remains the only Polish driver to compete in Formula One. In endurance racing, Kubica won the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship in the LMP2 class with WRT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sauber Motorsport</span> Swiss Motorsport engineering company

Sauber Motorsport AG, currently competing in Formula One as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, and also known simply as Kick Sauber or Sauber, is a Swiss motorsport engineering company. It was founded in 1970 by Peter Sauber, who progressed through hillclimbing and the World Sportscar Championship to reach Formula One in 1993. Sauber operated under their own name from 1993 until 2005 and from 2011 until 2018. They were known as BMW Sauber from 2006 to 2010 and as Alfa Romeo from 2019 to 2023 in partnership deals with BMW and Alfa Romeo, respectively. Sauber returned in 2024 as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, and is set to be the Audi works team from 2026 onwards, with the German outfit planning to acquire the Swiss team.

James Key is a British engineer who has worked in Formula One. He is currently the technical director of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber.

Italian motor manufacturer Alfa Romeo has participated multiple times in Formula One. The brand has competed in motor racing as both a constructor and engine supplier sporadically between 1950 and 1987, and later as a commercial partner between 2015 and 2023. The company's works drivers won the first two World Drivers' Championships in the pre-war Alfetta: Nino Farina in 1950 and Juan Manuel Fangio in 1951. Following these successes, Alfa Romeo withdrew from Formula One.

Formula One sponsorship liveries have been used since the 1968 season. Before the arrival of sponsorship liveries in 1968 the nationality of the team determined the colour of a car entered by the team, e.g. cars entered by Italian teams were rosso corsa red, cars entered by French teams were bleu de France blue, and cars entered by British teams were British racing green. Major sponsors such as BP, Shell, and Firestone had pulled out of the sport ahead of this season, prompting the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile to allow unrestricted sponsorship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valtteri Bottas</span> Finnish racing driver (born 1989)

Valtteri Viktor Bottas is a Finnish racing driver, who most recently competed in Formula One from 2013 to 2024. Bottas twice finished runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 2019 and 2020 with Mercedes, and has won 10 Grands Prix across 12 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio Giovinazzi</span> Italian racing driver (born 1993)

Antonio Maria Giovinazzi is an Italian racing driver, who competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Ferrari. Giovinazzi competed in Formula One between 2017 and 2021. In endurance racing, Giovinazzi won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 with Ferrari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zhou Guanyu</span> Chinese racing driver (born 1999)

Zhou Guanyu is a Chinese racing driver, who most recently competed in Formula One from 2022 to 2024. Zhou remains the only Chinese driver to compete in Formula One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Formula One World Championship</span> 69th season of FIA Formula One World Championship

The 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship was the motor racing championship for Formula One cars and the 69th running of the Formula One World Championship. Formula One is recognised by the governing body of international motorsport, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars. Drivers and teams competed in twenty-one Grands Prix for the World Drivers' and World Constructors' championship titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frédéric Vasseur</span> French motorsport executive (born 1968)

Frédéric Vasseur is a French motorsport executive, businessman and engineer. Since 2023, Vasseur has served as team principal of Ferrari in Formula One; he previously served as team prinicipal of Renault, Sauber and Alfa Romeo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Formula One World Championship</span> 70th season of FIA Formula One World Championship

The 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship was the motor racing championship for Formula One cars which marked the 70th running of the Formula One World Championship. It is recognised by the governing body of international motorsport, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars. Starting in March and ending in December, the championship was contested over twenty-one Grands Prix. Drivers competed for the title of World Drivers' Champion, and teams for the title of World Constructors' Champion. The 2019 championship also saw the running of the 1000th World Championship race, the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Formula One World Championship</span> 72nd Formula One season

The 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship was a motor racing championship for Formula One cars which was the 72nd running of the Formula One World Championship. It is recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body of international motorsport, as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars. The championship was contested over twenty-two Grands Prix, and held around the world. Drivers and teams competed for the titles of Formula One World Champion Driver and Formula One World Champion Constructor, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Australian Grand Prix</span> 2019 Formula 1 race

The 2019 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race that was held on 17 March 2019 in Melbourne, Victoria. The race was contested at the Albert Park Circuit and was the first round of the 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship. The race marked the 84th race in the combined history of the Australian Grand Prix – which dates back to the 100 Miles Road Race of 1928 – the 24th time the event was held at the Albert Park circuit and the 35th time the Australian Grand Prix had been a part of the Formula One World Championship. This was the last Grand Prix held on this configuration of the Albert Park Circuit that had been in use since 1996 with the 2020 and 2021 events being cancelled and the 2022 event being run on an adjusted layout.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Hungarian Grand Prix</span> Eleventh round of the 2021 Formula One season

The 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race, held on 1 August 2021 at the Hungaroring in Mogyoród, Hungary. It was the eleventh round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship, and it was won by Esteban Ocon for Alpine-Renault. The win was Ocon's first in Formula One, the first win for the Enstone-based team since the 2013 Australian Grand Prix, and the first win for a Renault-badged engine since the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix, with Hamilton and Carlos Sainz Jr. completing the podium after Sebastian Vettel was disqualified from second. Pierre Gasly earned the fastest lap, while Williams scored their first double points finish since the 2018 Italian Grand Prix and their first points of any kind since the 2019 German Grand Prix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Williams FW43</span> 2020–2021 Formula One racing car

The Williams FW43 is a Formula One car constructed by Williams to compete in the 2020 Formula One World Championship. The car was driven by Nicholas Latifi and George Russell, who were in their first and second year with the team respectively. Jack Aitken, Roy Nissany, Jamie Chadwick and Dan Ticktum acted as reserve and development drivers for the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Formula One World Championship</span> 73rd season of Formula One

The 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship was a motor racing championship for Formula One cars, which was the 73rd running of the Formula One World Championship. It is recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body of international motorsport, as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars. The championship was contested over twenty-two Grands Prix, which were held around the world, and ended earlier than in recent years to avoid overlapping with the FIFA World Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo Racing C41</span> Alfa Romeos 2021 Formula One car

The Alfa Romeo Racing C41 is a Formula One car constructed by Alfa Romeo Racing to compete in the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship. The car was driven by Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi, who returned for their third year with the team. Robert Kubica drove for the team at the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix replacing Räikkönen who withdrew from the events after testing positive for COVID-19. The chassis was designed by Jan Monchaux, Luca Furbatto, Lucia Conconi, Alessandro Cinelli and Nicolas Hennel with the car being powered by a customer Ferrari powertrain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo C42</span> 2022 Formula One racing car

The Alfa Romeo C42 is a Formula One car designed and built by Alfa Romeo to compete in the 2022 Formula One World Championship. The C42 is built to the new generation of technical regulations, originally intended for introduction in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix</span> Twenty-second round of the 2023 F1 season

The 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 26 November 2023 at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It was the twenty-second and final round of the 2023 Formula One World Championship. The race was won by Max Verstappen ahead of Charles Leclerc and George Russell. Russell's podium placing allowed the Mercedes team to secure second position ahead of Ferrari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo C43</span> Formula One racing car

The Alfa Romeo C43 is a Formula One car designed and built by Alfa Romeo that competed in the 2023 Formula One World Championship.

References

  1. ↑ "Key to lead Sauber into Audi era in technical director role". autosport.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hughes, Mark (6 February 2024). "How Kick Sauber's C44 moves towards a Red Bull philosophy". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. 1 2 Mitchell-Malm, Scott (5 February 2024). "Sauber reveals 2024 F1 car with striking new Stake livery". The Race. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  4. ↑ Anderson, Gary (5 February 2024). "Gary Anderson on 2024 Sauber + where it must convince Audi". The Race. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ↑ Somerfield, Matt (6 February 2024). "Can Sauber's new-look F1 challenger keep it off the back row?". Motorsport.com . Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. ↑ Filisetti, Paolo (6 February 2024). "Stake Sauber drawing on Red Bull RB19 lessons with new C44". RacingNews365. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. 1 2 Cooper, Adam (6 February 2024). "Sauber F1 team reveals dramatic new look on C44". Motorsport.com . Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  8. ↑ "In countries where advertisement of gambling and sports betting is disallowed, @Stake will be replaced by @KickStreaming - both in the @alfaromeoorlen team name and logo. Where both Stake and Kick are disallowed, just the Alfa Romeo F1 Team logo will be featured". Twitter. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  9. ↑ Hughes, Mark; Piola, Giorgio (26 March 2024). "How Ferrari, Aston Martin and Kick Sauber initiated the 2024 development race in Australia". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  10. 1 2 Hughes, Mark; Piola, Giorgio (4 June 2024). "Why Kick Sauber's upgrades could show their full potential in Canada" . Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  11. ↑ Somerfield, Matt; Piola, Giorgio (8 June 2024). "F1 Canadian GP: New updates from Mercedes, Red Bull explained". Motorsport.com . Motorsport Network . Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  12. ↑ Kalinauckas, Alex (20 June 2024). "Zhou returns to early 2024 Sauber F1 chassis, hopes it cures recent struggles". Motorsport.com . Motorsport Network . Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  13. ↑ Codling, Stuart (1 December 2024). "Bottas: It's "ironic" that Sauber F1 improvement has come so late". Autosport . Motorsport Network . Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  14. ↑ Cooper, Adam (13 March 2024). "Bottas: Struggling Sauber F1 team needed Jeddah "wake-up call"". Motorsport.com . Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  15. ↑ Gale, Ewan (14 June 2024). "Bottas: Sauber fix for F1 struggles "not rocket science"". Motorsport.com . Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  16. ↑ Noble, Jonathan (1 September 2024). "Audi admits it "cannot accept" Sauber's current F1 performances". Motorsport.com . Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  17. 1 2 Boxall-Legge, Jake (8 October 2024). "Will Sauber's C44 go down as F1's best point-less car, or are there better contenders?" . Autosport . Motorsport Network . Retrieved 12 October 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.