F1 Team Say Goodbye To Sport After Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

A familiar name will disappear from Formula 1 in 2026 after more than 30 years in the paddock.

It was an emotional evening for many onlookers at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, including F1 veteran Peter Sauber, who was present for Sauber’s final Formula 1 race before their transition to Audi.

More than two years ago, it was announced that German manufacturer Audi would complete a 100 per cent takeover of the Swiss operation.

Nico Hulkenberg, who was confirmed as a Sauber driver for 2025 following an impressive spell at Haas, will represent Audi alongside the highly-rated Gabriel Bortoleto.

After joining Kick Sauber as Team Principal in April, the experienced Jonathan Wheatley is set to lead his team into their transition to Audi.

“I feel very comfortable in the role I'm doing at the moment, it's an amazing opportunity. I'm so excited about the project," said Wheatley in August.

“Just saying Audi Formula 1 project sounds like the most incredible thing to be part of. Pressure is part of the job – it's been part of my job for the last 30 years. I turn it into something positive."

It is an exciting time for the team, although it must be tinged with sadness as the Sauber name disappears from the grid after more than three decades.

Ahead of the race in Abu Dhabi, they confirmed that it would be their last race under the Sauber name. "One last dance together in green," their official Instagram account wrote. "The final round of the 2025 season starts now."

On Sunday night, they also paid tribute to Peter Sauber, who founded the Swiss company in 1970.

"From our first race to our last," they wrote, alongside a video of Sauber at the season-finale in Abu Dhabi. "An honour to have Peter Sauber in the garage for our final weekend on track."

Sauber has been one of the longest-running entities in F1, competing almost continuously since their debut in 1993, where they have featured under the names BMW Sauber, Alfa Romeo and Kick Sauber.

Some high-profile names have raced for them over the years, including Kimi Raikkonen, Jacques Villeneuve and Sebastian Vettel.

Speaking ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Peter Sauber revealed that he almost gave Lewis Hamilton his F1 debut.

“Hardly anyone knows that around 20 years ago, Lewis Hamilton almost drove for us," he told Blick. “The Briton belonged to McLaren, and they wanted to send him to Hinwil for his Formula 1 apprenticeship.

“So the McLaren delegation met with Lewis and his father, as well as our in-house lawyer Monisha Kaltenborn and myself at Kloten Airport. The deal fell through because McLaren only wanted to loan him for one year – but we insisted on two."

Sauber finished the 2025 season with a 66-point improvement from 2024.