Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber- as the team is presently known was formerly known as the racing giant Alfa Romeo. Alfa Romeo's involvement in Formula One dates back to the championship's inception in 1950, marking it as one of the oldest names in the sport. The team's history is rich with innovation, resilience, and a commitment to speed that has seen it weather the many changes in the sport over the decades. From its early dominance in the 1950s to its recent resurgence, Alfa Romeo's journey in Formula One is a testament to the enduring spirit of motorsport.

The Alfa Romeo name returned to Formula One in 2018 when it became the title sponsor of the Sauber team, marking a new chapter in the team's history. The team was officially renamed Alfa Romeo Racing in 2019, although the team's headquarters remained in Switzerland and the ownership and management structure remained unchanged. This marked the beginning of a new era for the team, one that has seen it face new challenges and opportunities in the ever-evolving landscape of Formula One.

In 2023, the Alfa Romeo title sponsor was replaced by Stake who will remain the title sponsor for the Sauber outfit until the 2026 season where Audi will become the driving force of the team.

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Founding and Leaders

The Stake team has its roots in the Sauber team, which was established in 1993. Sauber had a reputation for producing competitive cars and developing young drivers, and even became race winners under BMW's brief ownership. The team was founded by Peter Sauber, who led it through its early years in Formula One. Sauber's leadership saw the team establish itself as a solid midfield contender, and it was under his guidance that the team first partnered with Alfa Romeo.

When Alfa Romeo became the title sponsor of the Sauber team in 2018, Team Principal Fred Vasseur steered the team on a rapid upward path. Vasseur, a seasoned motorsport professional with experience in various racing series, has been instrumental in guiding the team through the transition period and helping it navigate the challenges of modern Formula One. Under his leadership, the team has continued to develop competitive cars and nurture talented drivers. This helped Vasseur earn his position as the Team Principal at Ferrari in 2023.

When Stake became the title sponsor of the team in 2024, Alessandro Alunni Bravi became the team principal.

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Key Milestones and Achievements

The team's dominance in the post-war era was marked by the introduction of the supercharged Alfa Romeo 158 voiturette in 1938. This car, also known as the "Alfetta", complied with the new post-war Formula 1 rules and led Alfa Romeo to dominate the top single-seater category in motor racing in 1947 and 1948. The team did not compete in 1949 but made a triumphant return in 1950 and 1951, winning the World Championship with Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio respectively. However, as the Ferrari team gradually became more competitive, Alfa Romeo decided to withdraw rather than invest in a new design.

In its more recent incarnation, the team has continued to make its mark on the sport. In the 2018 season, the first season with Alfa Romeo as the title sponsor, the team saw a significant improvement in performance. The Ferrari-powered C37 proved competitive, especially in the hands of rookie driver Charles Leclerc, who scored thirty-nine of the team's forty-eight points. The 2019 season saw the team retain its competitive edge, with Kimi Raikkonen providing consistent results and Antonio Giovinazzi improving over the course of the year.

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Evolution of the Team Over the Years

The evolution of the Alfa Romeo team over the years reflects the changing landscape of Formula One. The team's early years were marked by dominance, with Alfa Romeo winning the inaugural F1 championship in 1950. However, the team withdrew from the sport in 1951, only to return in the late 1970s and early 1980s, albeit with less success.

The team's recent history began with its partnership with Sauber in 2018. This marked a new era for the team, one that has seen it face new challenges and opportunities. Despite the difficulties of the 2020 season, which saw the team struggle with the performance of the Ferrari power-unit in the car, Alfa Romeo has shown resilience and a commitment to improving their performance and results on the track.

However, with the transition to Stake in 2024, we saw the least successful season of Sauber's history - only scoring points once at the Qatar Grand Prix.

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Notable Drivers and Their Contributions

Stake's history in Formula One is marked by the contributions of several notable drivers under the Alfa Romeo and Sauber brands. In its early years, the team provided Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio with the machinery to win the first two F1 Drivers’ Championships. Farina and Fangio's success in the early years of Formula One helped establish Alfa Romeo's reputation in the sport and set the stage for the team's future endeavors.

In the team's recent history, rookie driver Charles Leclerc played a significant role in the 2018 season, scoring thirty-nine of the team's forty-eight points. Leclerc's performance demonstrated the competitiveness of the Ferrari-powered C37 and helped the team improve its standing in the championship. In 2019, the team signed 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen alongside Antonio Giovinazzi. Raikkonen's consistent results and Giovinazzi's improving form over the course of the season helped the team maintain its competitive edge.

The 2023 and 2024 lineup consisted of legendary Valtteri Bottas and the first Chinese Driver in F1, Zhou Guanyu.

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Overview of the Cars Used by the Team Over the Years

Alfa Romeo's journey in Formula One has seen it use a variety of cars over the years. The team's early dominance in the 1950s was achieved with the Alfa Romeo 158 and 159, cars that were renowned for their speed and reliability. These cars provided Farina and Fangio with the machinery to win the first two F1 Drivers’ Championships.

In the team's recent history, the Ferrari-powered C37 was used in the 2018 season, the first season with Alfa Romeo as the title sponsor. The car proved competitive, especially in the hands of Charles Leclerc. In 2019, the team maintained the Sauber car naming convention, with the 2019 car designated the C38. The car, powered by a Ferrari power unit, proved competitive, with Raikkonen providing consistent results and Giovinazzi improving over the course of the year.

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Technological Advancements and Innovations

Sauber's history in Formula One is marked by several technological advancements and innovations. The team's early cars, the Alfa Romeo 158 and 159, were renowned for their speed and reliability, setting the standard for Formula One cars in the 1950s.

In the team's recent history, the Ferrari-powered C37 and C38 demonstrated the team's commitment to technological advancement. Despite the challenges of the 2020 season, which saw the team struggle with the performance of the Ferrari power unit in the car, Alfa Romeo has shown resilience and a commitment to innovation. The team's ability to adapt to new regulations and develop competitive cars is a testament to its technical prowess and dedication to the sport.

In the 2024 season, however, the car - now under sponsors Stake and Kick - saw technology fail after technology fail. From pit stop equipment that didn't work for a handful of races to a frankly slow car, the team Iid not live up to its storied reputation.

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Current Leadership and Team Members

The current leadership of the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber is marked by a combination of experience and innovation. The current Team Principal is Alessandro Alunni Bravi who has served with the Sauber Group for a very long time. Additionally, former Ferrari Team Principal is the Technical Director of the Team. Although this has a slight effect on their current car, he has been brought on in this capacity to prepare the team to change to Audi in 2026.

The team's driver lineup for the 2024 season was veteran of the sport with multiple race wins Valtteri Bottas and younger driver Zhou Guanyu. However, the team has made a shakeup to their lineup forf 2025 - welcoming in the experienced Nico Hulkenberg from Haas and rookie, Gabriel Bortoletto. Gabriel is joining F1 and Stake fresh off of his F2 and F3 Championship Wins.

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Analysis of the Team's Performance in the Last Few Seasons

The performance of the Stake F1 Team in the last few seasons has been marked by resilience and gradual improvement and then a steep decline. The team's performance in the 2018 season, the first season with Alfa Romeo as the title sponsor, saw a significant improvement, with the Ferrari-powered C37 proving competitive, especially in the hands of Charles Leclerc.

The 2019 season saw the team maintain its competitive edge, with Kimi Raikkonen providing consistent results and Antonio Giovinazzi improving over the course of the year. However, the 2020 season was more challenging for the team, with the performance of the Ferrari power-unit in the car leading to a struggle at the back of the grid. Despite these challenges, the team managed to outperform fellow Ferrari-powered Haas and Mercedes-powered Williams, finishing eighth in the constructor's championship.

The 2021 season continued the downward momentum of the previous season, with both drivers being mired towards the back of the grid. Despite these challenges, the team managed to score thirteen points, although this was a decrease from the fifty-seven constructor points scored in 2019.

The 2022 season proved to be a significant improvement for the team moving up to the 6th place by scoring 55 points. In the current season, the team is at 6th place in the constructors standings ahead of Haas and Williams.

However, in the 2023 and 2024 seasons we saw some of the worst performances from the team - finishing 9th and 10th respectively.

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Comparison with Other Teams

Despite the challenges of the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the team managed to outperform fellow Ferrari-powered Haas and Mercedes-powered Williams in 2020, finishing eighth in the constructor's championship.

However, the team's performance has not been without its struggles. The 2021 season saw a decrease in constructor points scored compared to 2019, and the team was passed in the constructor standings by the Williams team, leaving them second-last to only the Haas F1 Team who failed to score points in the 2021 season.

By the end of the 2024 season, the team had only scored three points - leaving them in last place - miles behind 9th place finisher Williams and their formal rival, Haas who finished 7th.

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Overview of the Challenges Faced by the Team

Stake F1’s journey has been marked by several challenges - especially under the Sauber name. The team's early withdrawal from the sport in 1951, followed by a return in the late 1970s and early 1980s, was marked by less success than its initial dominance in the 1950s.

In its recent history, the team has faced the challenge of transitioning from the Sauber team to Alfa Romeo F1 team then to Stake and now to Audi, a process that involved not only a change in name but also a shift in the team's identity and goals. The team has also had to navigate the challenges of modern Formula One, including the complexities of developing competitive cars and nurturing talented drivers.

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Controversies

The Stake F1 team, under Sauber, like many others in the sport, has had its share of controversies. One notable incident occurred in the 1980 season when Patrick Depailler, a French race winner, was testing ahead of the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. He crashed off at the Ostkurve, hit the barrier head-on, and was killed on impact, aged 35. This tragic event sparked debates about safety standards in F1 racing. In the 1984 season, drivers Eddie Cheever and Riccardo Patrese were hardly on speaking terms due to on-track incidents, creating a frosty atmosphere within the team.

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Upcoming Plans and Strategies

Stake's plans and strategies for the future are focused almost certainly on the team's transition to Audi F1 in the 2026 season. With only one season left under the Sauber brand before an entirely new constructor enters F1, Sauber will likely focus 2025 on laying the groundwork with their drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoletto before 2026.

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Predictions for Future Seasons

Predicting the future performance of an F1 team is always a challenge, given the many variables involved. However, the team will likely continue to focus on developing their car and optimizing their strategies to compete more effectively with the other teams. A lot will depend on the performance of their drivers, the reliability of their car, and their ability to adapt to the ever-changing dynamics of F1 racing.