Sauber chief gives date for ‘surprise’ new name after F1 team’s Alfa Romeo split

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Sauber team principal Alessandro Alunni Bravi has declared that the Formula 1 team will announce their ‘surprise’ new name in December after splitting with Alfa Romeo.

The Hinwil, Switzerland-based outfit were due to resume running under the Sauber name in 2024. But Bravi has now stated that the team will confirm their new name as soon as the FIA publishes the final confirmed entry list for the upcoming Formula 1 season later this month.

Sauber have run under the Alfa Romeo name for the past five seasons after they agreed to a sponsorship deal. Their arrangement came into effect in 2019 after Alfa Romeo was the title sponsor for 2018. It was also through the initial deal that Charles Leclerc drove for the team.

Bravi confirms Sauber will announce a ‘surprise’ new name

Alfa Romeo only increased its payment to Sauber by $5m (£4m) to become the title sponsor of the F1 team. But with Sauber selling a stake in the team to Audi to become a works outfit for 2026, Alfa Romeo and Sauber agreed to terminate their naming deal at the end of 2023.

But rather than returning solely to the Sauber name, which the team used from 1993 until 2018 – including four seasons as BMW Sauber as a works team from 2006 to 2009 – a new name awaits. Bravi has also declared that Sauber will announce the name on December 10.

“On the 10th of December,” Bravi told Autosport. “As soon as the FIA will publish the entry list that we will, of course, announce the new team name. I think will be a surprise and we cannot wait to start the partnership with our new partners.

“We will have, I think, a really fresh approach in terms of communication marketing and we will do a launch of the car here in the UK.”

Audi will have no presence on Sauber’s F1 cars until 2026

The launch of Sauber’s 2024 F1 car will mark the first time that the team has launched their car in the UK. Being based in Switzerland, Sauber have traditionally launched their car at the factory in Hinwil. The team have also launched their cars in Germany and Austria in the past.

So, Sauber having their car launch in the UK might suggest their new name will come from a UK-based sponsor. It is certain that the team will not have any Audi branding until the 2026 season, though. Sauber confirmed that Audi will have no presence on their car in November.