Sauber’s Rise Continues: Double Points Finish in Austria and Full Focus on Audi’s 2026 F1 Project
The 2025 Formula 1 World Championship season has taken a surprising and refreshing turn for Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, as the team secured an impressive and morale-boosting double points finish at the prestigious Austrian Grand Prix — a performance that not only solidifies their recent trajectory of improvement but also lays down a strong foundation ahead of their transformation into a full-fledged works team under the Audi banner for the highly anticipated 2026 Formula 1 regulations.
The competitive weekend at the Red Bull Ring, nestled in the scenic Styrian mountains, marked the first occasion since the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix that both Sauber cars managed to finish inside the top ten, scoring valuable points for the team. Brazilian rookie sensation Gabriel Bortoleto, who has quickly become one of the standout young drivers of the 2025 season, delivered a highly impressive and composed performance to secure a well-earned eighth-place finish, thereby claiming his first-ever career points in Formula 1. Gabriel Bortoleto showcased remarkable consistency and raw pace throughout the entire Grand Prix weekend in the team’s Sauber C45 chassis, consistently posting lap times that were remarkably close to the leading front-runners, including the likes of Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton. Notably, Bortoleto achieved a career milestone by progressing into Q3 for the very first time during qualifying — a significant accomplishment for a debutant.
Veteran German driver Nico Hülkenberg, a seasoned competitor with over a decade of experience in Formula 1, also had reason to celebrate. The experienced former Force India and Haas driver brought home a solid ninth-place finish, marking his third consecutive race result inside the points-scoring positions — a consistent streak that highlights his enduring relevance in the sport. Hülkenberg has publicly commended his young teammate, Gabriel Bortoleto, expressing that he has been “very impressed” by how swiftly and seamlessly the 19-year-old has adapted to the high-pressure world of Formula 1. Despite his rookie status, Bortoleto has already outqualified Nico Hülkenberg on several occasions this season and has rapidly become an instrumental part of the team’s efforts to move up the grid.
Heading into the 2025 season, many observers, including several F1 pundits and analysts, had expected Sauber to remain entrenched at the back of the field — continuing the struggles that have plagued the Swiss-based outfit in recent years. However, the team has experienced a clear and tangible turnaround under the technical leadership and strategic guidance of newly appointed Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley, who previously served as the long-time Sporting Director at Red Bull Racing. Sauber now finds itself in ninth place in the Constructors’ Championship standings — a significant improvement — trailing Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team by a narrow margin of just two points, despite Aston Martin having started the season with much greater expectations and stronger factory support.
One of the most fascinating developments fueling Sauber’s recent success is their early and bold commitment to the Formula 1 technical regulations overhaul coming in 2026. According to a detailed report from respected Swiss publication Blick, the Hinwil-based team has now halted all development on its current C45 car for the 2025 season. Instead, all available technical, aerodynamic, and financial resources are now being reallocated toward the design, simulation, and testing of their 2026 challenger — which will be the first Formula 1 car fully developed under the Audi brand as the German automotive manufacturer makes its long-awaited entry into the sport as a full works team and power unit supplier.
This forward-thinking and strategically aggressive approach mirrors that of Scuderia Ferrari, the legendary Maranello-based team who currently supply Sauber with their customer power units. Ferrari, under the leadership of Frédéric Vasseur and with Lewis Hamilton joining Charles Leclerc in their driver line-up, have already begun to dedicate significant development resources toward their 2026 project. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has been vocal in urging Ferrari to prioritize their 2026 car, and it has been confirmed that the team has already commenced wind tunnel operations for next year’s chassis and aerodynamic package.
Similarly, Sauber are now said to be utilizing their wind tunnel facilities exclusively for 2026 development. The team has opted to completely stop bringing any further updates or upgrades to the current C45 during the remainder of the 2025 campaign — a bold move that underscores their serious intent to gain a competitive advantage for when the new Formula 1 era begins. Jonathan Wheatley recently remarked that Sauber “finally have a proper racing car” — a statement supported by the team’s back-to-back points finishes and steady rise in competitiveness over recent race weekends.
This strategic decision to shift focus to the long-term vision, even at the cost of immediate performance gains, signals the seriousness of the project being built in Hinwil — a project that has the potential to reshape the midfield dynamics of the Formula 1 grid. When Audi officially enters Formula 1 in 2026, it will mark a historic moment. The German brand — renowned for its dominance in other motorsport disciplines such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), and Formula E — will be entering Formula 1 for the first time as both a constructor and a power unit manufacturer under the new regulatory framework.
Nevertheless, there are still significant question marks surrounding Audi’s prospects. Former Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto has openly stated that he does not expect Audi to deliver the most powerful or competitive engine on the Formula 1 grid in 2026, cautioning that it will take time to match the performance levels of established manufacturers like Mercedes-AMG, Honda Racing Corporation, and Renault. However, Jonathan Wheatley’s methodical and structured management style, combined with the early commitment to infrastructure, could help ensure that Audi’s maiden season will be more than just a learning exercise.
Meanwhile, both Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto are expected to remain with the team for the 2026 season — continuing into the new Audi era. Initially, there had been internal doubts within the Sauber leadership about the long-term viability of the current driver line-up, particularly amid speculation linking other names such as Carlos Sainz Jr. and Valtteri Bottas to the Audi project. However, the current form of both Hülkenberg and Bortoleto — the former delivering consistency and the latter showcasing high potential — appears to have convinced decision-makers that stability could be key heading into this pivotal period.
As multiple teams on the grid, including the likes of Alpine, Williams Racing, and Haas F1 Team, begin weighing the trade-offs between focusing on current-season development and redirecting resources toward 2026 preparations, Sauber’s bold and Ferrari-inspired approach may ultimately grant them a vital strategic advantage. By embracing a long-term vision and executing it decisively, Sauber — soon to be Audi — is quietly positioning itself as one of the most intriguing teams to watch in the next chapter of Formula 1 history.
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