In Hinwil The clocks are ticking normally again, the specter of a takeover of the Andretti clan with the Indycar team owner Michael Andretti (59), who was apparently planning to cut 200 jobs, has finally been chased away. Namely from the Swedish Rausing family with Formula 1 fan Finn at the top. The team from Hinwil is still very important to the TetraPak owners. That is why they set the purchase price for the 80 percent stake and an additional bank guarantee for the next five years so high that the Americans had to give up their dreams. One speaks of a sum of a good half a billion euros.
Yes, the Sauber factory in the Zurich Oberland is a jewel with one of the best F1 wind tunnels. At the moment, Alfa is basking in the glamor of the fourth oldest team with its nostalgic appearance. But that will be over by the time Porsche or Audi knock on the door. The German giants don’t just want to take their big names (like Alfa) for a walk in Hinwil. No, they are planning to start in 2025, when the new engine formula is to come in the GP circus. And there is sure to be a good door open – at Sauber!
In addition, could then the new German entry-level (Porsche or Audi) even bet on the Mick Schumacher (22) card, because by then Sebastian Vettel (34) should no longer be in the circus. The question, however, remains: Will or can the son of the 7-time world champion at Haas-Ferrari survive three more years at the current GP bottom class?
Porsche and Audi have always had at least one representative with them in the last few months when the manufacturers Ferrari, Mercedes Renault and Honda discussed the future of the new drive generation. Although there is agreement, it will take some time until the exact regulations are drawn up. And because of the long lead time for the construction of the new PS monsters, the start could even be postponed to 2026. But Porsche and Audi want to be there! That is why one is already looking around for possible partners, since the Germans are certainly not setting up their own plant. In addition to Sauber and Williams, only the two Red Bull teams would actually offer themselves. But after the official withdrawal of the Japanese at the end of the year, they continue to drive on their own with the Honda engines. An exciting experiment for which the cops even set up a huge plant in Milton Keynes next to the main building.
For clean would be a new German partner (after Mercedes and BMW) a good thing. In 2008 BMW even celebrated a double GP victory in Montreal (Kubica before Heidfeld). It’s a shame that the people of Munich said goodbye through the back door after the Swiss adventure from 2006 to 2009. And Sauber almost plunged into the abyss.
Off to Mexico. The GP convoy is under way for the 18th World Championship run in the land of the Aztecs. And only two drivers have won there in the last four races: Hamilton (2016 and 2019) and the current world championship leader, Verstappen (2017 and 2018). So who should spit in their soup for them next Sunday? Nobody if they don’t crash for the third time … With a lead of 12 points, Max is the favorite for many fans. However, Lewis shows tough fighting qualities and remains very dangerous.