Nearly two decades ago, Lewis Hamilton Sauber F1 move was close to becoming reality, as team founder Peter Sauber disclosed details about an almost-finalized loan agreement that would have placed the future world champion at Sauber. This development, if it had materialized, could have significantly altered the course of Hamilton’s career and the wider Formula 1 landscape.
The Missed Opportunity Between Hamilton and Sauber
After securing the 2006 Formula 2 title, Lewis Hamilton was poised to step up to Formula 1, but his progression to McLaren’s main team was not guaranteed. With Fernando Alonso confirmed for the following year, and reserve driver Gary Paffett under consideration, McLaren faced a conundrum about their driver lineup. Juan Montoya’s departure midway through 2006 left an open seat temporarily filled by Pedro de la Rosa, while Kimi Raikkonen had already agreed to join Ferrari for the 2007 season.
This uncertain situation opened the door for a unique arrangement. Peter Sauber revealed that his team, running under the BMW Sauber name and fresh from a fifth-place finish in the 2006 constructors’ standings with Nick Heidfeld, Jacques Villeneuve, and Robert Kubica, was approached with the possibility of taking Hamilton on loan from McLaren.
“No one knows that about 20 years ago, Hamilton was about to race with Sauber,”
Peter Sauber, founder of the Hinwil-based outfit, told Blick. According to Sauber, McLaren’s proposal involved Hamilton gaining experience with Sauber before returning to the Woking-based team. He described a pivotal meeting:
“McLaren wanted to send Lewis to Hinwil for his apprenticeship. So the team delegation met Lewis, his father Anthony, me, and our lawyer Monisha Kaltenborn at Kloten Airport, near Zurich.”
“Then the deal fell through because McLaren wanted to loan him out for just one season, while we insisted on a two-year loan.”
This impasse led to the collapse of the proposed deal, leaving Hamilton to debut for McLaren in the 2007 season, where he partnered with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and nearly won the championship as a rookie.
How Sauber and Hamilton’s Paths Diverged
Hamilton’s immediate step into a McLaren race seat accelerated his rise. By his second F1 season, he secured his first drivers’ championship, confirming the wisdom of McLaren’s decision to integrate him so quickly. Meanwhile, BMW Sauber capitalized on their momentum, finishing as runners-up in the 2007 constructors’ championship and capturing their lone Formula 1 victory when Robert Kubica triumphed at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. Nick Heidfeld, Jacques Villeneuve, and Kubica each contributed to the team’s competitive stature during this period.
Despite the team’s achievements, the Sauber name’s long-term future in F1 became increasingly uncertain. By the 2025 season, with Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg driving, Sauber finished ninth in the standings. This marked the team’s final campaign before major changes loomed on the horizon.
The End of an Era and the Audi Takeover
Following the 2025 season, Audi officially took control of the Sauber team. Although many aspects of the team were maintained, including leadership under Jonathan Wheatley and the continued presence of Bortoleto and Hulkenberg, the Sauber name concluded its remarkable 32-year journey in the series. The team first raced at the 1993 South African Grand Prix in Kyalami, and their final outing came at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The abrupt end of discussions around the Lewis Hamilton Sauber F1 move meant that history unfolded in a very different way. Hamilton’s legendary career with McLaren and later Mercedes may never have happened as it did, while Sauber’s fate as an independent constructor met its conclusion as the team transitioned to become Audi’s Formula 1 entry. The story underlines how pivotal decisions and negotiations—sometimes hinging on the duration of a loan agreement—can shape both careers and the trajectory of entire teams within the sport.
