What to expect from the Stake F1 Team in 2024

What is Stake F1 doing for Sauber?

At the end of 2023, the partnership between Alfa Romeo and Sauber expired. Alfa Romeo had been the Swiss team's title sponsor in recent years. It's important financial income for the Hinwil-based team, who also get to use the Ferrari engine (Alfa Romeo and Ferrari are both under the parent company FIAT) in the car at a better price.

The deal with Alfa Romeo and Ferrari dates back to the days of Frederic Vasseur. The Frenchman struck that deal just after he cancelled the planned partnership with Honda. Under Vasseur's leadership, Alfa Romeo became a steady mid-tier team, but in the last few seasons, the team have slipped again.

Alfa Romeo leaves, and Stake takes over the naming rights. The livery will, therefore, be completely different for 2024, after the red colour became very prominent on the car in recent years. From previous hints from the team, it seems that black and green will be the new colours.

Stake are aware the spot in F1 will be temporary. The betting company aims to generate as much publicity as possible in a short time. Earlier, a piece appeared on GPblog with more background on Stake's owner. He, too, will know that Audi will become the team's new name in 2026 when Sauber are completely bought out.

Who are the key people in the Stake F1 Team?

Stake must, therefore, bridge the period between Alfa Romeo and Audi. Fans might have hoped that the Sauber name would return to F1, but it is clear that Andreas Seidl is opting for a different course. Seidl made the switch from McLaren to Sauber Motorsport in 2023. Seidl was the team boss at McLaren but has been given more prominent roles as CEO at Sauber.

Seidl has to ensure a smooth transition from Alfa Romeo to Sauber. The German was very successful as team boss at McLaren and previously in DTM and endurance racing with BMW and Porsche.

Seidl appointed Alessandro Alunni Bravi as the team representative. The Italian performs all the functions of a team boss but was not given that title. It indicates Sauber is still searching for a 'real' team boss. Earlier, GPblog put forward Otmar Szafnauer as an ideal candidate. The former Alpine team boss may return to F1 after his gardening leave ends in mid-2024.

The top technical position has been filled, though. Seidl brought in an acquaintance of his with James Key. Key was successful as technical director at AlphaTauri, after which he worked with Seidl at McLaren. Key was sidelined at McLaren in early 2023 because of poor performance, but he was not without a job for long. Seidl rejoined forces with the Brit, and Key joined the team in September 2023.

What do Audi's future plans look like?

It is already clear that Audi will not be on Sauber's car in 2024. The German brand are fully focused on their entry into F1 in 2026. Step by step, Audi will take ownership of the team and thus help determine what happens within the team in the background. For instance, Audi already expressed their desire to bring a German driver to the team.

The fact that Audi are not putting their name on the Stake F1 Team's car may also have to do with the engine that is in it. Until 2025, the team will still run with a Ferrari engine. Audi will not make their entrance as a name and engine supplier until 2026, when the new regulations take effect.

Who are the drivers of the Stake F1 Team?

Valtteri Bottas still has a contract with the Stake F1 Team until 2025. The Finn finally signed a long-term contract after his time with Mercedes and is happy with the team's security. In the two years with the team, the Finn was also clearly the front-runner.

Guanyu Zhou was also offered a contract extension, leaving him linked to the team through 2024. It is no secret that the Chinese driver also provides the necessary additional sponsorship income from his country. Theo Pourchaire became the team's reserve driver after the Frenchman won the Formula 2 title in 2023.

As for the team's future, two names are frequently mentioned. Nico Hulkenberg even confirmed that he held talks with Audi, but his contract at Haas was extended by one year. Guenther Steiner is said to have learned that Hulkenberg was in talks with Audi and lifted the option in his contract. In 2025, Hulkenberg will be a free man again.

Another candidate for the seat in the Stake F1 Team is Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard has been linked to the team for some time due to the future deal with Audi, as Carlos Sainz Sr. is also driving for Audi in Dakar. This deal might wait, considering the Spaniard can fight for podiums at Ferrari and Alfa Romeo finished ninth among constructors last year.

Stake F1 Team in 2024

After the difficult 2023 season, expectations for the Stake F1 Team in 2024 are not particularly high. Whereas competitors Williams and AlphaTauri showed a clear upward trend, performance at the Hinwil-based team only got worse. They did not finish ninth in the constructors' standings for nothing.

The problem is also that new technical director James Key could only start at the team in September. At that stage of the season, the team has already done a lot of work on the 2024 car. So Key's real influence will only be visible during the 2024 F1 season and all the way through the new car in 2025.

There are also question marks over the drivers. Bottas, with ten F1 victories, is an experienced driver in F1 but seems to lack the sharpness to make a real difference in the midfield. Zhou is a capable driver, but even in year two was still very far away from the Finn in the duel between them. It still looks a bit thin if you compare it to the duo AlphaTauri or Alpine can field.