Mattia Binotto has left the red prancing horse behind and jumped into Audi's driver’s seat, taking over from Andreas Seidl to lead Audi's Formula 1 charge alongside Sauber

After being shown the door by Ferrari at the end of 2022 following a series of underwhelming seasons, Binotto – a Scuderia stalwart since 1995 – steps into the shoes of Seidl, who was given the boot after just 19 months. Oliver Hoffmann, previously at the helm of all Sauber companies, has also exited stage left.

Audi's official word points to concerns over Sauber's sluggish progress as the catalyst for the shake-up. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, now also stepping into Hoffmann’s shoes, emphasized the need for speed: "Our goal is to rev up the entire Formula 1 project to F1 standards with streamlined management, defined roles, fewer bottlenecks, and snappy decision-making."

Binotto takes the wheel as both Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Sauber Motorsport AG – the team Audi linked up with in 2022 and fully acquired earlier this year.

He'll be in charge of steering the team's operational management and securing their on-track success as they gear up for their 2026 debut, right when new chassis and engine regulations come into play.

Expressing his excitement over Binotto's addition, Döllner said: "I'm thrilled we've brought Mattia Binotto on board for our ambitious F1 project. With over 25 years in Formula 1, his wealth of experience will undoubtedly be a game-changer for Audi."