Sauber team celebrated a long-awaited point finish at the Qatar Grand Prix, with Zhou Guanyu placing eighth and earning Driver of the Day honors. The event marks Sauber’s new home race, as Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund plans to acquire a significant stake in Audi’s factory team, enhancing financial support and growth prospects. Amidst this, Max Verstappen claimed victory, with Lando Norris facing penalties that impacted his standings, keeping the Constructors’ Championship competitive.
Sauber Team Celebrates Long-Awaited Points at Qatar Grand Prix
After an agonizing wait of over a year, the Sauber team in the Formula 1 circuit finally rejoiced as they secured points once again. Zhou Guanyu, the talented Chinese driver, achieved an impressive eighth-place finish during the Qatar Grand Prix, much to the delight of the fans who voted him as the Driver of the Day. Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas, the second driver for Sauber, narrowly missed out on points, finishing in eleventh place. This momentous occasion brings immense relief to the Swiss team, especially as it comes at a crucial time.
Qatar: The New Home for Sauber
The Qatar Grand Prix, held at the Losail International Circuit—almost 5,000 kilometers from Hinwil—will soon become Sauber’s home race. Recent developments indicate that the Qatari sovereign wealth fund is set to acquire about one-third of the shares in the upcoming Audi factory team located in Hinwil. For Qatar, this represents a long-term investment, while for Audi, it provides a significant financial boost to support the growth of their racing factory and increase their workforce.
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership, remarking, “Another milestone in our transformation story. This will accelerate our growth.” With the 2026 season approaching and new regulations on the horizon, the urgency for development has never been higher.
The anticipated investment from Qatar is described as a “significant minority stake,” which includes a seat on the board of Sauber Motorsport AG. Estimates suggest that this contribution could range between 250 and 350 million Swiss francs. While the current challenges in the automotive industry, particularly affecting the Volkswagen Group, are not directly linked to this investment, they have certainly helped alleviate some concerns regarding the engagement.
Negotiations with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) commenced on November 29, 2023, during a visit to the racing engine factory in Neuburg an der Donau. With Qatar already being the third-largest shareholder of VW, the investment seems promising. This potential capital influx also influenced the sales discussions with Swedish Sauber benefactor Finn Rausing, who initially intended to hold a minority stake.
As Audi moves towards a complete takeover by early 2025, Qatar’s involvement will become official. While the team will continue to operate under the Audi name for now, there may be a co-sponsor emerging from this partnership.
QIA CEO Mohammed al-Sowaidi believes that Formula 1 holds substantial untapped “investment potential.” With the increasing commercialization of professional sports and the rising global interest in Formula 1, he sees this as an exciting opportunity for Qatar to enhance its reputation and profitability.
The thriving atmosphere of Formula 1, coupled with strict cost caps, has transformed the landscape from a long-standing subsidy business into a viable business model. Leading teams like Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, and Mercedes are valued at over three billion dollars, with Sauber still holding a valuation exceeding one billion, making the sport enticing for investors.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff views Qatar’s involvement as beneficial for the sport, appreciating that rival Audi is adopting a similar ownership structure to the Stuttgart factory racing team. For the past four years, Wolff, Mercedes, and the chemical giant Ineos have each held a third of the shares.
The Qatari investors have also considered partnerships with neighboring Gulf region countries, as Bahrain has long been associated with McLaren, while Saudi Arabia is looking into a share package for Aston Martin through its oil company Aramco.
Audi CEO Döllner expressed confidence in the new strategic relationship, stating, “We know each other. It is a partnership where you can rely on the other.” This new era stands in stark contrast to the turbulent times of 2009 when BMW faced challenges after selling their shares to questionable investors from the Arab Gulf.
In the midst of these developments, Max Verstappen triumphed in the Qatar GP, turning around a previously difficult weekend into his ninth victory of the season. The chaotic race, marked by safety car phases and tire issues, saw British McLaren driver Lando Norris drop from second to tenth place due to a ten-second penalty for ignoring a yellow flag. Charles Leclerc from Ferrari capitalized on this situation, finishing in second place, which keeps the Constructors’ Championship title race competitive as the finale in Abu Dhabi approaches.