TECH ANALYSIS: How Sauber combined evolution and revolution with their C45 challenger

Sauber have released images of their 2025 challenger, the C45. This is the last Ferrari-powered Sauber before the team transition to Audi in 2026 with their own power unit.

The car is remarkably similar in appearance to the C44 predecessor, but under Technical Director James Key it brings “a fully re-engineered aerodynamic package, alongside mechanical refinements underneath the bodywork including an optimised cooling system and a new front and rear suspension architecture”.

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Key explained: “We have worked hard to drive our C45 development towards both established and new directions, building on what we learned last year with the C44 where we made some significant strides towards the end of the season, and fresh thinking in certain areas to release performance that we could not have found with our previous car.

“All of these steps have taken us forwards with a full revision of our aerodynamics, new front and rear suspension, updated cooling systems, weight reduction and improved and refined mechanical set-up options.”

A side-on comparison of the C45 (top) and C44

Although the suspension remains pull-rod front and rear, the geometry changes are designed to allow the car to run closer to the ground through high-speed corners, enhancing the underbody-created downforce.

The rearranged cooling layout has allowed bodywork changes around the sidepod in an effort to improve the airflow to the rear of the car. The sidepod top is higher than before around the cockpit area but is otherwise visually very similar to the old car.

A breakthrough was made late last season with a new floor introduced at Las Vegas and the team will have built upon this with the latest floor design as they attempt to improve on their last place classification in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship.

Sauber chief Mattia Binotto is aiming to boost the speed of the team’s transition to match the ambitions of Audi, saying: “The C45 is the culmination of months of dedication and hard work by our entire team.

How the front of the C45 (top) compares with the C44

“Every department has played a crucial role in developing this car, and we are extremely proud of what we have achieved, but we know this is just the beginning.

“Formula 1 is a constant race of development, often a case of who gets there first, and our focus will now shift to extracting performance and building on the strong foundation we have set.

“We have made significant advancements in aerodynamics, efficiency, and overall balance, all of which will be key in making us more competitive throughout the season.

“At the same time, success is about more than just car performance – it’s about how we operate as a team, how we execute on race weekends, and how we maximise every opportunity.

“Our goal is clear: to keep improving in every area, to fight hard, and to lay a solid foundation for future growth.”