F1 News: Sauber Car Hits Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya For Filming

Sauber's C44 2024 car will take to the track in Barcelona for two days with the probability of covering up to 400 kilometers.

Following the unveiling of the C44's chassis on Tuesday, Sauber became the first team in Formula 1 this year to unleash its 2024 contender at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Saturday.

Key Takeaways:

• Sauber became the first F1 team in 2024 to reveal its C44 chassis at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Saturday, following its unveiling earlier in the week.
• Utilizing one of their two allocated filming days, Sauber took advantage of a rule change allowing teams to cover up to 400 kilometers, spread over two days, for promotional purposes and gaining insights into their new cars.
• The team shared a video clip on social media featuring the C44 racing down Barcelona's main straight, signaling the start of its testing regime at the renowned circuit. Additionally, Sauber's recent rebranding as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber reflects a sponsorship deal with gambling firm Stake and streaming company Kick, with branding adjustments likely at races due to gambling restrictions in certain host nations.

Most F1 teams choose to use one of their two allotted filming days between the car's launch and the start of winter testing. This allows them to capture promotional content, apart from gaining an insight into their new cars. 

Therefore, Sauber conducted its inaugural filming day on Saturday, benefitting from a rule change permitting teams to cover 400 kilometers in 2024, compared to the previous year's limit of 200 kilometers. However, these distances must be completed on two distinct days.

Sauber Press Image

Posted across the team's official social media platforms, a short video showcased the C44 speeding down the main straight of the Barcelona circuit, a track well-known for hosting F1's Spanish Grand Prix and acclaimed for its extensive testing amenities.

We back. 🖤💚

Sound ON. 📢 pic.twitter.com/ztJb7DEHyJ

— Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber (@stakef1team_ks) February 10, 2024

Last month, Sauber unveiled plans to compete as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber in 2024, following a title sponsorship agreement with gambling company Stake and joint-owned streaming platform Kick. Due to gambling restrictions in several F1 host nations, including Bahrain, which hosts the sole three-day pre-season test and the season opener on March 2, Sauber is likely to swap Stake logos with Kick branding at select races in 2024.

In the midst of the car launch season, F1 has witnessed the debut of five out of the ten cars scheduled for the year. Sauber, Haas, Williams, Visa Cash App RB, and Alpine have unveiled their cars within the last eight days. The remaining five teams – Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin, and McLaren are poised to showcase their title contenders in the coming week, just ahead of the pre-season testing in Bahrain starting on February 21.

Sauber Press Image