Stake F1 has become the first team on the grid to unveil not just its new livery, but its actual 2024 contender in a glitzy event at London’s Guildhall on Monday evening.
Haas and Williams had already shown off the new look of their car liveries, but Stake F1 operated by Sauber has taken the covers off the new C44 which it describes as "a revolution on and off the track".
The team's press release didn't hold back, declaring that "there was nothing conventional or staid" about the launch event which it said had an "edginess" and "the feeling of being at the start of a new era, to be witnessing the birth of a new way of doing racing."
The new team's livery is predominantly Fluo Racing Green, replacing the mainly red and black colours used when the team was run as Alfa Romeo.
"We have a fresh new identity and we are excited about everything we have planned, on and off the track," said team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi.
"Witnessing the launch of a new car is always a special moment, and even more so when it marks the start of a new era, that of Stake F1 Team," he continued. "Today though is all about the C44 and its potential.
“The new car we unveiled today, the C44, is a tribute to the work done by [technical director] James Key and the technical team, and to every man and woman in Hinwil, who all contributed to the car we see today.
"We are confident about this car and our team: we won’t speak about specific targets, because it's always difficult to commit to numbers, but our targets are clear - to improve the performance of our car and our package.
"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.
"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.”
And it's not just the graphic design that's changed on this year's car. The new car features new pull-rod front suspension compared to the C43's push-rod system.
There is also an aggressively redesigned aero package, with marked development evident in the sidepods and engine cover. There's also been a redesign of many of the car’s internals, and a completely new floor.
The team has retained last year's drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu for 2024, and both spoke enthusiastically about the new car and livery.
“The new C44 definitely feels different, both in terms of looks and of what we can expect from the car," said Bottas, who joined Alfa Romeo in 2022 after a long stint alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
"You can't miss the colour!" joked Guanyu. "It's a very exciting new approach, especially in Formula 1. And then from my side, of course, we're hoping to be a fast one."
The C44 will get its first opportunity to hit the track on Friday during a shakedown in Barcelona, before travelling to Bahrain for the three days of testing from February 21.
Just a week later, the C44 will be heading out for the first practice session of 2024 on February 29.
It's only then that the team, drivers and the rest of F1 will know just how good the C44 really is. For now, the team is confident that it already tops the standings for the most daring, aggressive and disruptive car out there.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
