Andreas Seidl Out, Mattia Binotto In as Audi F1 Chief

Andreas Seidl has left his position as the head of Audi’s Formula 1 project and Mattia Binotto, the former Ferrari team boss will replace him. Concerns about the progress of the Sauber team, which Audi has chosen as the foundation for its 2026 F1 entry, prompted this change. Seidl, who served in the role for 19 months joined Audi in January 2023 after his tenure with McLaren. He struggled with delays in Audi’s commitment to the F1 project and difficulties in reshaping Sauber.

Oliver Hoffmann, who previously chaired all Sauber companies has also lost his role. Binotto, who was replaced as Ferrari’s team principal after the 2022 season will now take on the roles of chief operating and technical officer at Audi. Gernot Döllner, the new chairman of Sauber, commended Binotto’s extensive F1 experience and stressed the need for clear management structures, defined responsibilities and efficient decision-making processes to boost Audi’s F1 project.

Sauber, racing under the Alfa Romeo name last season, finished ninth out of ten teams in the constructors’ championship. This season, the team has dropped to the bottom of the standings and has failed to score any points after 13 of 24 races. The team’s car currently ranks as the slowest on the grid and Andreas Seidl’s recruitment of James Key as technical director last year has not yet brought significant improvements. In contrast, McLaren the team Seidl left has emerged as a leading contender this season.

Audi initially set the goal to become competitive and win races within three years of its F1 entry but the current situation has triggered a strategic overhaul.