Sauber Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi has said its target for the 2024 Formula 1 season is improvement in “every area” of the Hinwil-based organisation.
Bravi was speaking amid the launch of the new C44 2024 F1 challenger, which marked the start of the team’s two-year stint under the revised identity of ‘Stake F1 Team’.
These two years will bridge the gap between the closed Alfa Romeo chapter from 2023 and the future era as the Audi works outfit from the regulation reset in 2026.
Having finished ninth in last year’s Constructors’ standings, Bravi commented that whilst pinpointing an exact target for 2024 isn’t realistic, overall improvement is the main goal.
“We cannot speak about specific targets, because it’s always difficult to commit to numbers: our targets are clear – to improve the performance of our car and our package,” Bravi said.
“By package, I mean every area, from the race team to the operations on track, the pit stops the strategy: it’s more than just the car performance, and we are committed in all departments to make this step, this is the target.
“Then, we will see where our position will be as the season progresses: but the key target is to improve this year and to deliver a better job than we did in 2023.”
With the support of CEO Andreas Seidl, Bravi is overseeing an organisational restructuring as Sauber bridges the gap to the impending full takeover from Audi.
Amid Jan Monchaux’s departure midway through last season, James Key, who had left McLaren earlier in the year, was appointed to the role of Technical Director.
“These two years will see our team undergo a big transformation process towards 2026, when we will become the Audi works team,” Bravi explained.
“Our focus, though, is on the here and now: we know that it is important to lay the foundations for our team every day.
“This is why we are working very hard to improve all the areas of our organisation, under the leadership of Andreas Seidl.
“We put in place a very efficient structure on track. We have Xevi Pujolar, our Racing Director; Beat Zehnder, our Sporting Director; and myself. Back in Hinwil, we have a new Technical Director in James Key.
“I think this structure is really suitable for our growing process and for the targets we need to reach.”
Whilst a clear notion of where the team will end up in the 2024 pecking order isn’t realistic in the present moment and amid Sauber’s planning behind the scenes to build toward a long-term successful project with Audi, Bravi remains confident the team can improve in the short term.
“I think that the team is capable, and has every opportunity, to do a step forward,” Bravi added.
“Last year, we finished ninth in the Constructors’ Championship: of course, the minimum target needs to be improving on this position.
“We need to be realistic, the season will be very long: it’s not just about being competitive at the beginning, it is about developing the car from January to December, delivering the very best as a team in every race and getting the most of all the opportunities that will arise up during the season.
“If we are able to be fully committed throughout the entire season, and to keep the focus on what is our job, that is to improve the car performance, improve the team operations, improve the way we work, then I am convinced we will do a step forward.
“How much this step will be, this will be the track to tell.”
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