In a grand reveal at London’s Guildhall, Kick Sauber introduced their 2024 season car, the C44, adorned in an eye-catching fluorescent green and black livery.
Under the new moniker of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, the Sauber-managed squad is venturing into a fresh chapter following the departure of their Italian title sponsor, Alfa Romeo.
The team from Switzerland has described the C44 as a significant evolution from its forerunner, featuring a host of modifications. Notably, the car transitions from a push-rod to a pull-rod suspension system, marking one of its most critical adjustments.
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Further enhancements include an overhaul of the sidepods and engine cover, alongside a redesigned floor, which stands as a crucial focus in the quest for optimal lap times. The team has also announced plans to introduce “some important updates” during the initial races of the season.
Maintaining consistency in their driver lineup, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber will continue with Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu at the helm for the third consecutive year.
“The new car we unveiled today, the C44, is a tribute to the work done by James Key and the technical team, and to every man and woman in Hinwil, who all contributed to the car we see today,” said Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi. “Witnessing the launch of a new car is always a special moment, and even more so when it marks the start of a new era, that of Stake F1 Team.
“We have a fresh new identity and we are excited about everything we have planned, on and off the track: today, though, it is all about the C44 and its potential. We are confident about this car and our team: we won’t speak about specific targets, because it’s always difficult to put commit to numbers, but our targets are clear – to improve the performance of our car and our package.
“By package, I mean every area, from the race team to the operations on track, the pit stops, the strategy: it’s more than just the car performance, and we are committed in all departments to make this step, this is the target. Then, we will see where our position will be as the season progresses: but the key target is to improve this year and to deliver a better job than we did in 2023.”
James Key, the Technical Director who rejoined the Hinwil-based team in September after previous roles at Toro Rosso and McLaren, further commented: “The C44 is virtually a completely new car, with a few carry-over areas at the rear of the car. The team had to take an ambitious direction well before I joined: there are many mechanical changes, some of which you can’t see at all, but some are very visible.
“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. We took a lot of new, exciting directions, all of which appear to hold quite a bit of potential, so we’re looking forward to seeing them on track.”
Bottas said: “The new C44 definitely feels different, both in terms of looks and of what we can expect from the car. We need to perform as a team and extract the most out of this package, which has some impressive potential – nothing else matters. Personally speaking, going into third season together with a team, the objectives need to be lofty.
“My own expectations are high, we definitely need to make a good step and see good progress from last year, a season in which, in all honesty, we didn’t meet the targets that we set for ourselves. We need to fix that now, we need to step up our game and do better, but I have seen some real enthusiasm back in Hinwil and I am confident we can do it.”
Zhou said: “First, you know, you can’t miss the colour! It’s a very exciting new approach, especially in Formula One. And then from my side, of course, we’re hoping to be a fast one.
“We’ve been putting in a lot of effort since the last season, especially in the second half of the year, after the summer break, just to make sure that we’re understanding exactly where we had to improve as a team and what the plan for the guys back in the factory would be for the winter: now is the time to put everything together and get the car on track.
“The expectations are high but, at the same time, we know we won’t know where we really stand until we start competing against our rivals. Still, a lot of effort went into the new car and I’m excited to drive it soon.”
The C44 is scheduled to make its debut on the track this Friday with a shakedown session in Barcelona. Following this, the team will head to Bahrain for a three-day pre-season testing period, leading up to the season’s first race, which will also be held in Bahrain.
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