The secret life of Sauber
Rather quietly, while nobody was paying much attention, the Formula 1 team formally known as Sauber, had a promising 2018 season. “Formally known as”? That’s right. This week Sauber officially became Alfa Romeo Racing ahead of the 2019 F1 season kicking off next month.
Alfa Romeo was involved with the Swiss team last year too, of course. But then it was much less visible.
Buoyed by a solid 8th in the
2018 championship standings (where Charles Leclerc and Marcus Ericsson combined for a
48-point tally), the manufacturer has stamped its recognisable motif and name across the team.
Kimi Raikkonen will be the team’s lead driver for the 2019 season, which (hopefully) will add some extra drama to proceedings.
After a consistently strong start to last year’s championship from the Iceman, his final year in the Ferrari red racing suit seemed to fade to bland by the time the season was half done.
Here’s hoping — for Sauber as much as spectators — there’ll be plenty of blunt “Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing,” chatter across the team radio during the forthcoming season as Raikkonen powers his way towards the front of the pack from within the midfield. And let’s hope all that Alfa Romeo hardware holds up to the task, too . . .