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Kick Sauber C44

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Kick Sauber C44
Zhou Guanyu driving a C44 during the Dutch Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorKick Sauber
Designer(s)James Key (Technical Director)[1]
Eric Gandelin (Chief Designer)
Lucia Conconi (Head of Vehicle Performance)
Alessandro Cinelli (Head of Aerodynamics)
Franck Sanchez (Chief Aerodynamicist)
PredecessorAlfa Romeo C43
Technical specifications
Suspension (front)Carbon fibre double wishbone, pullrod-activated inboard torsion springs, rockers and Öhlins damper units
Suspension (rear)Carbon fibre double wishbone, pushrod-activated inboard torsion springs, rockers and Öhlins damper units
EngineFerrari 066/12
1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine limited to 15,000 rpm in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout 1.6 L (98 cu in) V6 (90°) turbocharged, 15,000 rpm limited
Electric motorFerrari Kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
TransmissionSauber carbon fibre maincase with Ferrari cassette containing eight forward speeds and one reverse 8-speed + 1 reverse sequential seamless semi-automatic paddle shift
BatteryLithium-ion battery
Weight798 kg (1,759 lb)
FuelZero Petroleum
LubricantsSunoco
BrakesVentilated carbon Brembo brake discs and pads with an electronically controlled hydraulic system for the rear brakes (Brake by Wire). Brembo monobloc calipers in nickel-plated aluminium alloy. Brembo tandem brake master cylinder
TyresPirelli P Zero (dry)
Pirelli Cinturato (wet)
ClutchCarbon Composite
Competition history
Notable entrantsStake F1 Team Kick Sauber
Notable drivers
Debut2024 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last event2024 São Paulo Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
210000

The Kick Sauber C44 is a Formula One car designed and constructed by Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber to compete in the 2024 Formula One World Championship. The car is driven by Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, both in their third and final year with the team. It is the first Sauber-badged Formula One car since the Sauber C37 in 2018. Although featuring significant design differences to its predecessor, the Alfa Romeo C43, and despite numerous upgrades being introduced throughout the season, the C44 has exhibited consistently poor performance and reliability, and as of the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix it has scored no points with its highest finish so far being an 11th place finish by Zhou at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Background

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Development context

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Further information: 2024 Formula One World Championship § Technical regulations

The Kick Sauber C44 is the first car to be fielded by Kick Sauber since the end of their partnership with Alfa Romeo in 2023.

The C44's design began under Jan Monchaux, but he was replaced by James Key in August 2023.[2]

Initial design

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Key said the C44 was "virtually a completely new car", sharing only some areas at its rear with its predecessor, the Alfa Romeo C43.[3] As with its predecessors, the C44 uses a Ferrari power unit and transmission, with the latter housed in a Sauber-designed and -manufactured casing.[2]

At launch, the C44 exhibited a shift towards Red Bull's design philosophy, featuring pull-rod front suspension (a design also used by McLaren, where it was introduced by Key on the MCL36),[4] a downwards-sloping sidepod, and squared off radiator inlets.[2][5] Regulation changes regarding roll hoops led Sauber to adopt the conventional A-shaped design, one that had not previously used.[2][6]

Livery

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The departure of Alfa Romeo as a title sponsor and the adoption of Stake and Kick as title sponsors led to a new fluorescent green and black livery.[7][3] The Stake logos are replaced by Kick's in countries where gambling sponsorships are outlawed.[8]

Competition and development history

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Pre-season

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The C44 was run for a filming day at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya before the official pre-season test at Bahrain International Circuit.[7]

Opening rounds

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Bottas and Zhou on the grid during Sprint race of the Chinese Grand Prix

A new front wing was introduced to the C44 at the Australian Grand Prix.[9]

At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Sauber introduced a new floor that was both lighter and featured longer fences, with the goal of increasing downforce generated by the ground effect.[10]

Mid-season rounds

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A new rear wing was introduced at the Monaco Grand Prix.[10]

Sauber introduced new rear and beam wings for the Canadian Grand Prix, the former a refined version of that introduced in Monaco.[11]

Zhou reverted to an early-season chassis for the Spanish Grand Prix, although the team was uncertain if his issues were related to a defect with the chassis or if its upgrades were underperforming.[12]

Assessment and characteristics

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The C44 exhibited poor tyre management early in the season, struggling to efficiently heat them in both qualifying and race settings.[13] When asked if the car struggled from a lack of rear-end grip, Zhou replied "It is everywhere, to be honest, just four-wheel sliding [...] we are just lacking grip."[14]

Audi, who purchased Sauber to transition it into its own Formula One team in 2026, said the C44's performance was unacceptably poor.[15]

Jake Boxall-Legge, writing for Autosport, claimed that the C44's poor performance was the result of Audi's fixation on its 2026 entry and neglect of Sauber since the team did not carry the Audi name.[16] Boxall-Legge said the C44 had started the 2024 season reasonably competitive and had numerous opportunities to score points, but these opportunities were squandered by repeated pit stop errors, and the car became less competitive as its rivals improved.[16]

Complete Formula One results

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Key
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (empty cell)
Annotation Meaning
P Pole position
F Fastest lap
Superscript
number 		Points-scoring position
in sprint
Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers Grands Prix Points WCC
BHR SAU AUS JPN CHN MIA EMI MON CAN ESP AUT GBR HUN BEL NED ITA AZE SIN USA MXC SAP LVG QAT ABU
2024 Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber Ferrari
066/12
1.6 V6 t 		P Finland Valtteri Bottas 19 17 14 14 Ret 16 18 13 13 16 16 15 16 15 19 16 16 16 17 14 13 0* 10th*
China Zhou Guanyu 11 18 15 Ret 14 14 15 16 15 13 17 18 19 Ret 20 18 14 15 19 15 15
Source:

* Season still in progress.

References

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  1. ^ "Key to lead Sauber into Audi era in technical director role". autosport.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Hughes, Mark (6 February 2024). "How Kick Sauber's C44 moves towards a Red Bull philosophy". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b Mitchell-Malm, Scott (5 February 2024). "Sauber reveals 2024 F1 car with striking new Stake livery". The Race. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  4. ^ Anderson, Gary (5 February 2024). "Gary Anderson on 2024 Sauber + where it must convince Audi". The Race. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ^ Somerfield, Matt (6 February 2024). "Can Sauber's new-look F1 challenger keep it off the back row?". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. ^ Filisetti, Paolo (6 February 2024). "Stake Sauber drawing on Red Bull RB19 lessons with new C44". RacingNews365. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b Cooper, Adam (6 February 2024). "Sauber F1 team reveals dramatic new look on C44". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  8. ^ "In countries where advertisement of gambling and sports betting is disallowed, @Stake will be replaced by @KickStreaming - both in the @alfaromeoorlen team name and logo. Where both Stake and Kick are disallowed, just the Alfa Romeo F1 Team logo will be featured". Twitter. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  9. ^ Hughes, Mark; Piola, Giorgio (26 March 2024). "How Ferrari, Aston Martin and Kick Sauber initiated the 2024 development race in Australia". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b Hughes, Mark; Piola, Giorgio (4 June 2024). "Why Kick Sauber's upgrades could show their full potential in Canada". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  11. ^ Somerfield, Matt; Piola, Giorgio (8 June 2024). "F1 Canadian GP: New updates from Mercedes, Red Bull explained". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  12. ^ Kalinauckas, Alex (20 June 2024). "Zhou returns to early 2024 Sauber F1 chassis, hopes it cures recent struggles". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  13. ^ Cooper, Adam (13 March 2024). "Bottas: Struggling Sauber F1 team needed Jeddah "wake-up call"". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  14. ^ Gale, Ewan (14 June 2024). "Bottas: Sauber fix for F1 struggles "not rocket science"". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  15. ^ Noble, Jonathan (1 September 2024). "Audi admits it "cannot accept" Sauber's current F1 performances". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  16. ^ a b Boxall-Legge, Jake (8 October 2024). "Will Sauber's C44 go down as F1's best point-less car, or are there better contenders?". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
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