Sauber marked a significant milestone at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, celebrating its 600th Formula One race. Since its debut in the sport, the Swiss team has delivered countless memorable moments and played a key role in shaping F1 history.

It all began in South Africa in 1993, when Peter Sauber’s team lined up on the grid for the first time with the C12, driven by JJ Lehto and Karl Wendlinger. Facing off against legendary teams like McLaren, Ferrari, Williams, and Benetton, both Sauber drivers qualified in the top ten — Lehto in an impressive P6 and Wendlinger in P10. The race itself was chaotic, with only five cars reaching the finish. Wendlinger was fighting for a podium before an electronics issue forced him to retire, while Lehto brought home an excellent fifth-place finish. It was a remarkable debut.Throughout the 1993 season, both drivers consistently finished in the top six, with a best result of fourth place.

Sauber’s first podium came at Monza in 1995 with Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Over the years, the team has become known as a launchpad for some of Formula One’s brightest talents — a testament to Peter Sauber’s knack for spotting young potential. Among the standout names who got their start with the team are rookie Kimi Räikkönen in 2001, Felipe Massa in 2002, Robert Kubica during the BMW era, and a 19-year-old Sebastian Vettel, who made his F1 debut with the team at the 2007 United States Grand Prix.

In 2018, Charles Leclerc raced with the Alfa Romeo Sauber Team before going on to become a Ferrari star. Kimi Räikkönen also made a celebrated return to the team in 2019.

To mark the 600th Grand Prix milestone, Peter Sauber made a special appearance at the Imola race. Alongside him was Beat Zehnder who has been with the team since its inception in 1993 and has attended every single race.

“The best memories are the ones you can’t tell — they happened behind the scenes,” Zehnder says with a laugh. “But certainly the first podium in 1995 stands out, and then Monaco ’96 when we finished third and fourth, with only four cars reaching the end.”

Zehnder’s journey began in 1988 as a mechanic with Sauber. He climbed the ranks over the years, serving as a racing mechanic, chief mechanic, team manager, and eventually sporting director.

When asked about the drivers he’s worked with over the years, Zehnder shares:

  • Best to work with: Kimi Räikkönen
  • Funniest: Johnny Herbert
  • Most complete: Charles Leclerc
  • Most challenging: Jacques Villeneuve