Karun Chandhok reveals David Coulthard’s ‘brutal’ verdict on Sauber after Formula 1 exit

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The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marked the end of Sauber’s time in Formula 1 as a manufacturer.

Sauber made their F1 debut in 1993 with Karl Wendlinger and JJ Lehto guiding the team to a P7 finish in the constructors’ championship.

It was a decent debut campaign for Peter Sauber’s team, outscoring more established manufacturers like Minardi, Jordan and Tyrrell.

Unfortunately, over the next 32 seasons, Sauber never achieved their ultimate goal of winning either championship.

Robert Kubica won Sauber’s only race at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, and their partnership with BMW turned out to be their most successful period on the F1 grid.

Kubica later admitted Sauber never lived up to their potential, and Karun Chandhok has shared what fellow pundit David Coulthard told him about the Swiss team that backs up the one-time race winner’s frustration.

​READ MORE: All you need to know about the Audi F1 team from Sauber’s past to drivers

David Coulthard lamented Sauber’s ‘mediocrity’ ahead of Audi’s 2026 F1 takeover

Chandhok was speaking on the Fast and the Curious about Sauber’s last race in Formula 1 and said: “Let’s be honest, they were in F1 for 42 [33] years and won one race!

“It’s not like Williams have left? I remember when I was at Channel 4, I was in the commentary box with David Coulthard.

“And Sauber were celebrating it must have been one of their anniversaries at the British Grand Prix.

“F1, put a graphic up celebrating whatever it was for Sauber, and DC just went, ‘Yep, well, I suppose that’s 40 years of mediocrity!’

“I was like, wow, DC, that was brutal! You’ve been hanging out with Helmut [Marko].

“They’re lovely people who work at Sauber, but they weren’t setting the world alight, and I’m actually happy and excited to see someone new come along.”

READ MORE: Jacques Villeneuve explains how David Coulthard helped him win his only Formula 1 title

Audi set 2030 championship goal ahead of Formula 1 debut

Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto are the two drivers tasked with turning Sauber’s mediocrity into something far more exciting under the Audi banner.

Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley are two of the most competent leaders in the paddock, and Sauber’s progression in 2025 alone will give their fans and drivers hope.

Audi are aiming to win the constructors’ championship by 2030, an ambitious target for any manufacturer arriving on the grid.

Wheatley has already said he would love to sign Max Verstappen, but in the same way that any Formula 1 team principal would want to bring in the four-time world champion.

The most important aspect of the upcoming rule changes are going to be the new power units.

Audi are entering F1 with their own engine, which could either give them an immediate advantage or put them on the back foot.

Given their pedigree in other racing series, Audi’s arrival could finally lift Sauber out of ‘mediocrity’.