Sauber and its F1 resurgence has become a buzzword in the Formula 1 paddock, and it is no longer just talk. Under the guidance of new team principal Jonathan Wheatley, Sauber has shaken off its years of midfield obscurity and is fast becoming one of the most improved teams on the grid.
The recent double-points finish at the Austrian Grand Prix—its best result since 2023—was not an accident but the payoff from months of targeted upgrades, sharper operations, and a fresh sense of confidence at their Hinwil base. What is behind this transformation? Wheatley, who joined Sauber ahead of the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, credits both a new attitude and tangible technical improvements.
“I’m a bit fed up that the technical regulations are ending at the end of the year, because we’re starting to have a bit of fun here! With the work that Mattia and James [Key, technical director] are doing back at the factory, putting performance on the car, I mean, it’s a lovely time to be here,” Wheatley told the media in Austria, where rookie Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg finished eighth and ninth, respectively.
It was not so long ago that Sauber seemed to be treading water, waiting for the Audi transition and lacking direction after the departure of Frederic Vasseur.
But the arrival of Wheatley, long respected for his work with Red Bull, and a fresh management structure under Mattia Binotto has changed the mood. Sauber is now focusing on short-term performance gains while preparing its technical and operational base for the 2026 rule change and Audi’s full entry.
Culture Shift, Pit Lane Gains, and a New Identity
Much of Sauber’s progress can be traced to changes in the garage and on the pit wall. Pit stop times have plummeted, with the team now regularly delivering sub-2.5 second tyre changes and challenging the best on the grid for precision and reliability. Wheatley puts this down to attitude as much as process.
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“I’ve always said that I think pit stop performance is the manifestation of team spirit. When the team’s highly motivated, they deliver. And that I think today shows just where the team is in terms of its spirit,” Wheatley explained, giving credit to both the mechanics and to Binotto’s steady hand in the background.
Sauber’s recent results are not just about hard numbers. Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto has scored his first points, while Hulkenberg is proving the car’s improvements are real by making Q3 and finishing consistently inside the top ten. Wheatley is keen to spread the credit.
“Don’t forget Mattia, you imagine the influence he’s been having from the background,” Wheatley added. “Of course I like to think I’ve had a positive effect here in terms of the attitude, the mindset, the way we go racing. But most of it was here before I got here. Of course, there’s things to do. We’ve changed an awful lot.”
Wheatley is also bringing in a new openness when it comes to race strategy and communication: “We wanted to explore different ways of communicating during the race, different ways of talking about strategy, how you include a wider audience in that and doing that the right way.
“I think at the moment we’re thriving. We’re just enjoying the environment. And yeah, there’s more to come. I’ve still only been here since April.”
Audi on the Horizon
While the full Audi takeover looms for 2026, Sauber is not simply biding its time. The team’s new direction is about building a winning mentality now and laying the groundwork for future success. For the first time in years, Sauber is earning headlines for its on-track performance and for a growing belief in the paddock that it is a team on the rise.
Wheatley’s Red Bull pedigree and Binotto’s technical expertise have created a culture that expects more—and is starting to deliver. With each strong result, Sauber is proving it can set the agenda in the midfield, not just follow it. The journey is not over, but the road ahead looks far brighter than at any point in recent seasons.
