Sauber team boss Alessandro Alunni Bravi stated that the team’s new name reveal could potentially come as a “surprise” following Alfa Romeo exit.
The Sauber team boss also stated that the Swiss-based outfit will defy convention and unveil their 2024 car in the UK for the first time after making its F1 debut in 1993.
Under several names, Sauber has revealed its F1 contenders in Austria, Germany, and most frequently Switzerland. The 2023 C43 was launched in a joint event held in Zurich and at the team’s Hinwil headquarters.
Bravi also revealed that the team’s new partners have been confirmed and are pending approvals when the FIA releases its entry list for the 2024 season on Sunday, December 10.
Sauber announced its split with Alfa Romeo ahead of Audi’s majority takeover, which is scheduled to begin with the 2026 season after having previously spent the previous five seasons in partnership with Alfa Romeo.
The team was previously widely believed to have been returning to the Sauber name for 2024 and 2025. However, with Audi developing their own power unit for the 2026 engine regulations, this will make them another factory team in F1.
Although the team boss made strong indications that a title sponsor would be involved, it is still possible that he will withhold the new name. This is because the Audi logo and name will not feature on their car until 2026.
“On the 10th of December, as soon as the FIA will publish the entry list that we will of course announce the new team name,” Bravi said at the Autosport Awards. “I think it will be a surprise, and we cannot wait to start the partnership with our new partners.
“We will have, I think, a really fresh approach in terms of communication marketing and we will do a launch of the car here in the UK.
“This year, we concluded our successful partnership with Alfa Romeo. And for 2024 we will, of course, have a different team name.
“As you know, in Formula 1, the team name is also the pending foreign commercial partnership.
“We don’t want to disclose anything more tonight.”
After Audi completes its majority acquisition of the team in 2026, the Sauber Group is still expected to hold a minority stake in the team.
Their debut is a part of a larger competitive drive for more factory teams in Formula 1. Red Bull Powertrains is scheduled to begin operations in full force at the same time as part of their upcoming partnership with Ford, while Aston Martin has signed an exclusive power unit deal with Honda beginning that season.
Alfa Romeo finished in the bottom two for the second time in three seasons this year with a meager 16 points, after having risen to sixth in 2022.
