Sauber’s best moments and most memorable liveries in F1

Since joining the Formula 1 grid in 1993, Sauber has been a constant presence through multiple eras of the sport. From podium finishes and giant-killing performances to iconic driver pairings and distinctive paint jobs, the Hinwil-based team has left a lasting mark on the sport.

Founder Peter Sauber was in the paddock for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the Sauber era, with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto bringing home the two Kick Sauber cars one last time. With the team set to become Audi from 2026, now is the moment to celebrate some of Sauber’s most memorable moments and looks that defined their time in the sport...

1993 – Championship debut

The Sauber name entered Formula 1 with a bang at the season-opening South African Grand Prix in March 1993 with the Sauber C12. After success in other categories of racing, the team wasted little time showing they belonged at the top level.

On track, JJ Lehto delivered an impressive debut performance for the Swiss team, claiming fifth place in Kyalami, before backing that up with P4 in Imola. It was a result that immediately put Sauber on the map amongst their competitors and signalled the arrival of a team capable of competing with more established names.

However, off track, the C12 was just as striking. Its bold black livery, featuring minimal advertising, stood apart from much of the grid and quickly became one of the most distinctive designs of the 1990s.

1995 – A maiden podium

In less than three full seasons in the sport, Sauber achieved a major breakthrough at the 1995 Italian Grand Prix. Heinz-Harald Frentzen climbed from 10th to third in Monza, taking advantage of 14 drivers failing to finish, resulting in his and Sauber’s first podium.

The season was made even more memorable by the team’s partnership with Red Bull, years before their own entrance into F1. This collaboration brought about a distinct white-and-blue livery with instantly recognisable branding. Achieving a podium in this livery was a milestone for Red Bull, and one of their earliest achievements in their motorsport project.

2001 – Their best championship finish (so far)

Sauber made headlines ahead of the 2001 season when signing 21-year-old rookie Kimi Raikkonen, who many argued didn’t have enough experience. The young Finn quickly hushed them with a string of composed drives, while his team mate Nick Heidfeld provided stability and regular points.

Remarkably, the Sauber C20 had enough pace and reliability to finish fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, beating the likes of Jordan, BAR and Benetton, despite their limited budget. Heidfeld in Brazil was the highlight of the year, as he kept his cool in the rain to rise from ninth to third to score his maiden podium.

Sauber’s liveries had also begun to show a more confidence – the bold drivers needed a bold paint job to match. While the chassis retained the familiar deeper Red Bull blue from the mid ‘90s, the addition of bright Petronas cyan along the sides since 1997 brought extra colour and contrast, giving the car a look that genuinely stood out on the grid.

2003 – An epic podium comeback

In an otherwise quiet season for the Sauber team, a standout highlight came at the United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis. Frentzen performed yet more miracles in tricky conditions, pitting at the perfect time for wet tyres to fly up the order from 15th to third.

The comeback was one of Sauber’s greatest performances, as Frentzen secured his 18th and final F1 podium, only finishing behind the likes of Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen.

Team mate Heidfeld made it a day to remember as he also enjoyed his best result of the season in fifth. Not only this, but the double points finish catapulted Sauber-Petronas up from P9 to P5 in the Constructors’ – an incredible feat in just one weekend!

2007 – Sauber's best-ever Constructors’ finish

In 2006, Sauber took a new direction when partnering with German manufacturer BMW and re-emerging on the grid as BMW Sauber. After a poor 2005 with Jacques Villeneuve and Felipe Massa, the team recovered with a solid season, featuring a podium each for Heidfeld and Robert Kubica, who replaced Villeneuve after round 12. But the best was yet to come.

Ferrari and McLaren were in the midst of a cut-throat battle for the 2007 Championship, but Sauber were able to cause some surprises. Consistency was key, and despite Heidfeld providing just two podiums all season, Sauber were runners-up in the Constructors’, thanks to 26 points finishes and McLaren’s disqualification from the Constructors’ Championship after an espionage controversy.

A plucky young driver named Sebastian Vettel made his F1 debut in 2007 for Sauber at the United States Grand Prix – after Kubica's heavy crash in Canada. There were signs of his talent early on, as he snagged a point on debut in eighth despite having very little time behind the wheel of an F1 car. Vettel joined the Toro Rosso team after round 11, and the rest is history...

2008 – Robert Kubica wins in Canada

One of the most emotional moments in Sauber’s history came at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, where Robert Kubica claimed his first – and ultimately only – victory in F1. It was BMW Sauber’s maiden win as a constructor, and the only win associated with Sauber. The win was remarkable when you consider the year before Kubica suffered a huge crash at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, where he was very lucky to come away with just a sprained ankle.

But the following year, he returned calm and focussed in the F1.08 – and seemingly had no sense of fear or apprehension. As he later put it, “The crash didn’t come into my mind. I had no thoughts about it. I had a job to do.”

When others faltered with performance or strategy, Kubica didn’t – putting the BMW on the front row on Saturday before pulling clear on Sunday. Team mate Heidfeld followed him home to seal a mind-blowing 1-2 finish for Sauber.

For BMW Sauber, the win and 1-2 in Canada marked a step into completely new territory. Taking the chequered flag first that day put Kubica in the lead of the Drivers’ Championship – a position the team had not achieved before. Canada proved to ultimately be the high point of the campaign, as Kubica finished third in the standings, but has undoubtedly remained a fond memory for the team.

2012 – Four podiums

The successful 2008 season for Sauber was followed by struggles for the Swiss outfit. They didn’t nail the new regulations, and although the team managed podiums in Malaysia and Brazil in 2009, they slipped back to sixth overall, before BMW confirmed its F1 withdrawal and sold the team back to Peter Sauber. The team fared little better the following two seasons, but come 2012, Sauber enjoyed a return to the podium not once, but four times!

Sergio Perez earned widespread praise after a brilliant second place finish in Malaysia, followed by a second podium in Canada. The Sauber’s C31 package proved to be relatively competitive all-round, and while results weren’t necessarily consistent, Perez and Kamui Kobayashi continued to deliver in Italy and Japan – the latter a hugely popular home podium for the Japanese driver.

In total, Sauber finished the year with four popular podiums, more than Mercedes, and marked one of the team’s most successful seasons.

2015 – Improvements and bold new livery

After enduring a point-less 2014 season, Sauber bounced back impressively in 2015 as they climbed to eighth in the Constructors’ Championship with their improved C34. Rookie Felipe Nasr proved a welcome addition to the team, finishing fifth on his debut at the Australian Grand Prix, whilst Marcus Ericsson followed him home in eighth to secure double points in their season opener.

Across the 19-race season, the pair scored points at nine of the races, a vast improvement from the year before, undoubtedly restoring belief within the team of more improvement to come...

Perhaps, though, the main talking point of Sauber’s season that year was its bold new blue and yellow livery – shaped by Nasr’s Branco do Brasil backing and additional sponsorship from Chelsea Football Club – giving Sauber a fresh identity during their resurgent season.

2018 – Rookie Leclerc emerges and ‘Sauber’ farewell

Under new team principal Fred Vasseur, Sauber enjoyed another rapid resurgence in 2018, with the Ferrari-powered C37 proving an at-times competitive package. Rookie star Charles Leclerc proved the standout of the season, as he went on to score an impressive 39 of the team’s 48 points, making his mark with a season-high P6 finish. The season ended as the final one under the Sauber name, marking a strong send-off before another rebrand for the team.

The C37’s livery proved to be one of the most beloved in their time on the grid – a crisp white with red and black accents gave them a classic look, and the perfect livery for their final season with the Sauber name (at the time!)

2022 – Alfa Romeo’s rejuvenated season

After their recent rebrand, Alfa Romeo enjoyed a strong season in 2022, with Valtteri Bottas leading the charge and scoring a fantastic 49 of the team’s 56 points, including seven points finishes from the first nine races. Rookie Zhou Guanyu also contributed solid performances to help the team secure a sixth-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship and their best result in a decade.

Headlines late in the year confirmed that the team would become the Audi works squad from 2026 – a major new chapter pending...

2024/5 – The final era

The final Sauber liveries certainly made a bold statement on the grid with the neon green and black elements, inspired by their new sponsorships. The colours glowed under the lights at street races, and stood out during day races – and has proved to be one of their most memorable looks.

On track, 2024 was a difficult year, the C44 proved slow and early races were plagued by pit stop issues. However, the competitiveness of the car did return in the final rounds, just in time for the penultimate race of the season in Qatar – Zhou Guanyu secured the team’s sole points finish in eighth.

In 2025, it was Nico Hulkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto who helped the team climb to ninth in the standings with 70 points – a huge improvement from four the previous year. Hulkenberg achieved a career milestone when he went on to claim his first-ever podium in 15 years in the sport at the 2025 British Grand Prix, giving Sauber a memorable and fitting farewell.