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
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 was driven by Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, both in their third and final year with the team. It was the first Sauber-badged Formula One car since the Sauber C37 in 2018. Although featuring significant design differences to its predecessor, the Alfa Romeo C43, and despite numerous upgrades being introduced throughout the season, the C44 exhibited consistently poor performance and reliability, and Kick Sauber finished last in the World Constructors' Championship standings. Having not scored points for a majority of the season, Zhou scored the team's maiden points at the Qatar Grand Prix, which ended up being the team's highest finishing position of the season.
Key said the C44 was "virtually a completely new car", sharing only some areas at its rear with its predecessor, the Alfa Romeo C43.[3] As with its predecessors, the C44 uses a Ferrari power unit and transmission, with the latter housed in a Sauber-designed and -manufactured casing.[2]
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),[4] a downwards-sloping sidepod, and squared off radiator inlets.[2][5] Regulation changes regarding roll hoops led Sauber to adopt the conventional A-shaped design, one that had not previously used.[2][6]
Livery
The departure of Alfa Romeo as a title sponsor and the adoption of Stake and Kick as title sponsors led to a new fluorescent green and black livery.[7][3] The Stake logos are replaced by Kick's in countries where gambling sponsorships are outlawed.[8]
Competition and development history
This section needs expansion with: information on session results. You can help by adding to it. (September 2024)
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.[10]
Sauber introduced new rear and beam wings for the Canadian Grand Prix, the former a refined version of that introduced in Monaco.[11]
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.[12]
Closing rounds
A new floor was fitted to the car at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, intended to direct the development of the team's 2025 car.[13]
Assessment and characteristics
The C44 exhibited poor tyre management early in the season, struggling to efficiently heat them in both qualifying and race settings.[14] 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."[15]
Audi, who purchased Sauber to transition it into its own Formula One team in 2026, said the C44's performance was unacceptably poor.[16]
Jake Boxall-Legge, writing for Autosport, claimed that the C44's poor performance was the result of Audi's fixation on its 2026 entry and neglect of Sauber since the team did not carry the Audi name.[17] Boxall-Legge said the C44 had started the 2024 season reasonably competitive and had numerous opportunities to score points, but these opportunities were squandered by repeated pit stop errors, and the car became less competitive as its rivals improved.[17]
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