Kick Sauber C44

Kick Sauber C44

Zhou Guanyu driving a C44 during the Dutch Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Kick Sauber
Designer(s)	James Key (Technical Director) Eric Gandelin (Chief Designer) Lucia Conconi (Head of Vehicle Performance) Alessandro Cinelli (Head of Aerodynamics) Franck Sanchez (Chief Aerodynamicist)
Predecessor	Alfa 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
Engine	Ferrari 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 mid-mounted.
Electric motor	Ferrari Kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
Transmission	Sauber carbon fibre maincase with Ferrari cassette containing eight forward speeds and one reverse 8-speed + 1 reverse sequential seamless semi-automatic paddle shift
Battery	Lithium-ion battery
Weight	798 kg (1,759 lb)
Fuel	Zero Petroleum
Brakes	Ventilated 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
Tyres	Pirelli P Zero (dry) Pirelli Cinturato (wet)
Clutch	Carbon Composite
Competition history
Notable entrants	Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
Notable drivers	24. Zhou Guanyu 77. Valtteri Bottas
Debut	2024 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last event	2024 Singapore Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 18 0 0 0 0

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 year at the team. Although featuring significant design differences to its predecessor, the Alfa Romeo C43, the C44 has exhibited consistently poor performance.

Background

Development context

Further information: 2024 Formula One World Championship § Technical regulations

It 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.

Initial design

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

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), a downwards-sloping sidepod, and squared off radiator inlets. Regulation changes regarding roll hoops led Sauber to adopt the conventional A-shaped design, one that had not previously used.

Livery

The departure of Alfa Romeo as a title sponsor and the adoption of Stake and Kick led to a new fluorescent green and black livery.

Competition and development history

Pre-season

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

Opening rounds

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.

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.

Mid-season rounds

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

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

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.

Assessment and characteristics

The C44 exhibited poor tyre management early in the season, struggling to efficiently heat them in both qualifying and race settings. 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."

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

Complete Formula One results

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	Valtteri Bottas	19	17	14	14	Ret	16	18	13	13	16	16	15	16	15	19	16	16	16							0*	10th*
				Zhou Guanyu	11	18	15	Ret	14	14	15	16	15	13	17	18	19	Ret	20	18	14	15
Source:

* Season still in progress.

External links

• Official website