Martin Brundle admits he can’t understand why one Formula 1 team still exists

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Martin Brundle has questioned why Sauber continue to race in Formula 1 after another disappointing campaign under the guide of Alfa Romeo.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu both had difficult campaigns last year and they only just edged out Haas to avoid finishing bottom of the Constructors’ Championship.

Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Review Show, Martin Brundle was reflecting on the Swiss team’s campaign.

When Alfa Romeo returned to the grid in 2019, many wondered if they would be able to elevate Sauber to the next level.

In the five years before competing as Alfa Romeo, they recorded a best finish of eighth in the Constructors’ Championship and scored less than 100 points combined.

Zhou and Bottas helped Alfa Romeo finish sixth in 2022 but even so, they were back markers for much of their time together.

Sauber will be known as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber going into 2024 after parting ways with Alfa Romeo over the winter, although they were keen to rejoin the grid.

However, Martin Brundle has admitted he’s not sure exactly what Sauber are trying to achieve in Formula 1.

In the 465 Grand Prix under various names, they achieved just a single race win through Robert Kubica at the Canadian Grand Prix in 2008.

His teammate Nick Heidfeld joined him on the podium but the team never took advantage of that pace to win a world championship and have been on the decline ever since.

Brundle questions Sauber’s place in Formula 1

Asked to sum up Alfa Romeo’s year, Brundle said: “They’ve shown some pace from time to time, not so much this season as last year.

“But particularly with Valtteri Bottas I think it’s a solid set-up, let’s call it Sauber, I’ve always wondered kind of why they existed, what they were aiming for, where’s the goal when with other teams it’s quite clear what they’re trying to do.

“But it’s a serious team based in Switzerland, they’ll launch the car in Great Britain in 2024. I wouldn’t underestimate them but they just seem to spin their wheels around the same place in the world championships.

“So, something needs to change, that change could of course well be Audi progressively taking the team over ready for a 2026 onslaught.”

Sauber won’t be in Formula 1 for much longer and Brundle will instead be able to assess the performances of their successors Audi.

The German works team will have much loftier ambitions that occasionally challenging for minor points.

They’ve already identified their preferred drivers before joining the grid but only time will tell who they end up recruiting.

Whatever happens, they might finally give an identity to a team who have drifted through Formula 1 seasons for much too long.