Lewis Hamilton was nearly set to join Sauber F1 before the 2007 Formula 1 season, an unexpected twist that could have changed the course of the sport. The potential Lewis Hamilton Sauber F1 deal was ultimately derailed by loan term disagreements between Sauber and McLaren, just as key driver moves opened doors in Formula 1’s competitive lineup that year.
How Hamilton Almost Joined Sauber
After clinching the 2006 Formula 2 championship, Lewis Hamilton was tipped to move up to a coveted McLaren seat in Formula 1. Both McLaren’s existing drivers, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen, still occupied the primary positions, raising doubts about an immediate opportunity for Hamilton within the team. Montoya’s sudden shift to an IndyCar career prompted Pedro de la Rosa to step in temporarily, while Raikkonen was already set for a switch to Ferrari in 2007. These changes left a vacancy, providing Hamilton with a route directly into McLaren’s lineup, where he would partner double world champion Fernando Alonso as a rookie and embark on a title-challenging campaign.
In a revelation, Peter Sauber disclosed that serious talks took place for Hamilton to join Sauber on loan from McLaren. The deal ultimately collapsed due to differences over the length of Hamilton’s loan, as stated:
“Then the deal fell through because McLaren wanted to loan him out for just one season, while we insisted on a two-year loan.”
– Peter Sauber, Team Founder
The Legacy of Sauber F1
Hamilton’s direct promotion to McLaren proved fortuitous for his career. He secured the drivers’ championship title in just his second season, validating his immediate presence in a top-tier team. Meanwhile, the BMW Sauber squad excelled in 2007, finishing second among constructors, and celebrated their first and only Grand Prix victory in 2008 when Robert Kubica triumphed at the Canadian Grand Prix.
The final season for Sauber as an F1 team was in 2025. With Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg at the helm, they finished in ninth place before Audi prepared to take over for the following year. The Audi-backed team retained key figures, including Bortoleto, Hulkenberg, and team principal Jonathan Wheatley, continuing select traditions and expertise as the new era began.
The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marked the close of a remarkable 32-year run for Sauber, whose first race dates back to the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. The team’s impact remains notable, having shaped talents like Hamilton and contributed to key moments in motor racing history.
An Alternate History That Almost Was
Had the Lewis Hamilton Sauber F1 deal materialized, the competitive landscape and the careers of several drivers—including Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen, and Fernando Alonso—might have taken drastically different turns. With Audi now leading the next phase of the former Sauber team, the organization’s role in the evolution of Formula 1 continues, even as one chapter closes and another begins.
