Andreas Seidl has been removed as head of Audi’s Formula 1 project and replaced by former Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto.
The decision to replace Seidl, after 19 months in the role of chief executive officer, comes amid concerns about the progress of the Sauber team that Audi has taken over as the basis for its F1 entry in 2026.
Oliver Hoffmann, previously chairman of the boards of all Sauber companies, has also been removed from his role.
Binotto, who was replaced as Ferrari team principal after the 2022 season, has taken on the role of chief operating and chief technical officer.
Gernot Döllner, who has been appointed the new chairman of the boards of Sauber companies, said: “With his extensive experience of more than 25 years in F1, [Binotto] will undoubtedly be able to make a decisive contribution for Audi.
“Our aim is to bring the entire F1 project up to F1 speed by means of clear management structures, defined responsibilities, reduced interfaces, and efficient decision-making processes.
“For this purpose, the team must be able to act independently and quickly.”
Seidl started in his role for Audi in January last year, after four years with McLaren.
He was charged with preparing Audi for its F1 entry in 2026, when new regulations for both chassis and engine are coming into force.
German Seidl is said, by a source close to him, to have become frustrated with what he perceived as Audi’s delay in fully committing to the F1 project, in particular in reshaping Sauber.
That had a knock-on effect in the driver market as Audi have signed German veteran Nico Hulkenberg from the 2025 season, but so far do not have a second one from next year.
There was also tension between Hoffmann and Seidl over the management style of the project.
Sauber finished ninth of the 10 teams in the constructors’ championship last season, when they were racing under the name Alfa Romeo.
This year, they are 10th and last after 13 of 24 races. The team has not scored a point and, on average qualifying pace, its car is the slowest in the field.
In June last year, Seidl recruited James Key as technical director, three months after he left McLaren following the introduction of a new technical structure aimed at improving the team’s performance.
McLaren have since become a leading team and this season are back as a regular frontrunner for the first time in 12 years.
Audi initially set itself the target of being competitive and wining races within three years of its entry.
Source link : https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/ckvg0zpyn5zo
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Publish date : 2024-07-23 13:30:44
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