Alfa Romeo F1 team revert to original Sauber name

Alfa Romeo have confirmed they will return to their original name of Sauber for the 2024 Formula 1 season and beyond.

The Swiss-based team finished ninth in the Constructors Championship this year and will drop their association with the Italian brand as they prepare for their transition into the factory Audi team for 2026.

Sauber entered F1 in 1993 and had raced under their own name until they partnered with Alfa Romeo in 2019.

A new platform for streaming and betting will be included in their title.

Officially, they will be known as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber and the chassis will be called a Kick Sauber.

Team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi said: "Sauber has always been about innovation, breaking the mould and defying convention.

"The partnership with Kick is the latest and boldest display of the philosophy that drives us. 

"Kick is redefining the way live streaming is done and they will adopt the same disruptive approach in the world of Formula 1."

Sauber rely on Ferrari engines for their cars and will continue to do so until 2026.

Audi is building an engine of its own for the new regulations coming into effect in two years, which will introduce fully sustainable net-zero carbon synthetic e-fuels and a much greater emphasis on hybrid power.

Former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will continue to race for the team as they seek to improve after a disappointing campaign.

Sauber's best-ever finish in the championship was second in 2007 and they have only won one race — with Robert Kubica at Canada in 2008.