The Alfa Romeo C43 was the Hinwil-based Sauber operation's 2023 constructor entry, raced under the full title Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake following a title sponsorship agreement with Stake.com. Powered by a customer Ferrari 066/10 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 hybrid, the C43 evolved from the C42 platform with revised aerodynamics. Car No. 77 belonged to Valtteri Bottas throughout the season, and this 1:18 scale model by Spark Model freezes a specific moment — the Italian GP at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, 3 September 2023.
The Alfa Romeo C43: Ferrari Power, Sauber Hands
Built around a customer Ferrari 066/10 unit — a 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 hybrid — the C43 carried forward the technical partnership that had defined the Alfa Romeo-badged Sauber cars since 2018. The 2023 specification introduced revised aerodynamic surfaces over the outgoing C42. Crucially, 2023 was the final year the team would race under the Alfa Romeo identity; from 2024, the branding gave way to Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, marking the start of the team's transition toward becoming an Audi works entry.
Round 14 at Monza: Bottas and a Farewell Season
The 2023 Italian Grand Prix ran on 3 September 2023 as Round 14 of the FIA Formula One World Championship. Bottas retired from the race — a DNF that, in isolation, might seem unremarkable, but sits within a season-long narrative of a team operating under borrowed time with its current identity. The black-and-green Stake.com livery was a single-season design, replacing the red-and-white Orlen colour scheme of previous years, giving the C43 a visual profile unlike any earlier Alfa Romeo or Sauber F1 car. Monza's temple-of-speed atmosphere added further weight to what was, effectively, an extended farewell lap for the Alfa Romeo name in Formula 1.
The 1:18 Scale Model by Spark Model
Spark Model is the reference producer for current-era Formula 1 replicas in 1:18, with a catalogue that follows the championship race by race. This piece — SKU 18S970 — represents Bottas's No. 77 C43 specifically at the 2023 Italian GP, making it a race-specific rather than a generic season replica. Spark's 1:18 Formula 1 models are engineered with high surface fidelity, capturing aerodynamic geometry, sponsor graphics and livery colour across the bodywork. The Stake black-and-green scheme, with its Alfa Romeo trilobo badge, is reproduced in full season-specification detail.
In the Display Cabinet
The C43 No. 77 belongs naturally alongside the C42 from Bottas's 2022 campaign — his first full season with the team — and the Zhou Guanyu No. 24 C43, which shares the identical 2023 Stake livery and makes for a complete Monza front-row pairing on the shelf. Collectors following the Sauber lineage will also want to pair it with the 2024 Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber C44, the direct successor that marked the official end of the Alfa Romeo chapter. For those focused on the Ferrari power unit family, the Ferrari SF-23 from the same season sits logically alongside as the works car running the same engine architecture.
Frequently asked questions
Which race does this model represent?
It depicts Valtteri Bottas's No. 77 Alfa Romeo C43 at the 2023 Italian Grand Prix, held at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza on 3 September 2023, Round 14 of the FIA Formula One World Championship.
What was Bottas's result at the 2023 Italian GP?
Bottas retired from the race and was classified as a DNF (did not finish).
What is significant about the Stake livery on this car?
The black-and-green Stake.com colour scheme was introduced for the 2023 season only, replacing the previous Orlen red-and-white livery. It was used for a single year before the Alfa Romeo branding was dropped entirely for 2024, making it visually unique within the Sauber/Alfa Romeo lineage.
Who makes this 1:18 scale model and what is it based on?
It is produced by Spark Model, a specialist in contemporary Formula 1 replicas in 1:18 scale. The model is race-specific, depicting the car as it ran at Monza in September 2023.
