Following the announcement that Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur will be departing the Hinwil-based team to join Ferrari, Sauber announced that McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl will take the Frenchman’s role as CEO of the Sauber Group.
Interestingly, Seidl was linked to the team principal role at Ferrari but rejected it due to being happy with his position at McLaren.
Things change incredibly quickly in Formula 1, though, with Seidl returning to Sauber.
He previously worked for the team whilst they raced under the BMW Sauber name, with Seidl having lived near their Hinwil base for four years.
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The now ex-McLaren team principal “can’t wait” to get to work with Sauber, where he will be leading the search for a new team principal to replace Vasseur.
“It is great to join the Sauber Group from January: this is a team with a rich history in Formula 1 and an organisation I know really well from my time working and living in Hinwil for four years,” Seidl said.
“I can’t wait to join the team and work with all the colleagues at the Sauber Group on the ambitious goals we have set together.
“I want to thank Finn Rausing and everyone at the Sauber Group for their choice: I am looking forward to repaying their trust with my work.”
Seidl won’t be taking the team principal role himself, with many now wondering just who he might choose to replace Vasseur.
Should Seidl remain at Sauber for the next four years at least, then it will see him working once again with the Volkswagen group, who, of course, own Porsche and Audi.
Audi will be joining F1 in 2026 through the Sauber team, whom they’ll be claiming a 75-percent share of.
Seidl has experience of working with the German group after playing an integral part in Porsche’s World Endurance Championship stint, before he switched to McLaren.
Sauber chairman Finn Rausing hailed it as an “immense pleasure” to welcome Seidl into the side and is targeting “many years of success together”.
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“It is an immense pleasure to welcome Andreas Seidl back to Hinwil as CEO of the Sauber Group,” Rausing said.
“Andreas’s experience is second to none and he brings to Sauber Group a clear understanding of what is required to achieve sustained success.
“He takes over a company on an upward path and he shares our commitment to keeping our organization growing: I look forward to many years of success together.”