Sauber is continuing to strengthen its staff for Audi’s entry into Formula 1 in 2026. In view of the current results, this is urgently needed. After another pointless race in Canada, the team from Hinwill announced the following Monday that it had hired Stefano Sordo as Performance Director. The Italian had previously worked in the premier class for Red Bull and McLaren.
Andreas Seidl hopes for Stefano Sordo: Should take ‘necessary measures’
“The appointment of Stefano is an important step in the development of the structure of our technical department,” says Managing Director Andreas Seidl. “Stefano knows what a winning team needs. He brings a wealth of experience to the team and, with the various tasks he has performed in the past, is ideally placed to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of our technical department and take the necessary measures,” says the Bavarian, hoping for valuable input from his new recruit.
He has already worked in Formula 1 for Red Bull and McLaren. With the former team, he enjoyed great success during Sebastian Vettel’s outstanding era in the first half of the 2010s. Most recently, he worked in America. At Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, he was responsible for racing projects in the IndyCar and IMSA series as technical director.
“Stefano is an important addition to our team. He will shape our understanding and priorities for the performance focus of the new cars and development in the season, working closely with myself and our vehicle performance, aerodynamics and track engineering groups,” explains James Key, Technical Director at Sauber. The new role of Performance Director will be created for Sordo. In this role, the Italian will report directly to Key.
Sordo highly motivated: Audi as an exciting adventure
“I am delighted to be joining Sauber and to take on a role that will have a direct impact on developing the performance we already have in our company and helping it reach new heights,” said Sordo. He made it clear that 2026 is the main focus: “The team is at a crucial point in its history, with the start of the Audi adventure imminent, and I am looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.”
After there were repeated rumors about whether Audi would even go through with the F1 project, things are now really moving forward. Andreas Seidl is working at full speed to upgrade the future factory team in terms of personnel, infrastructure and equipment. However, these efforts have not yet reached the track. Sauber is the only team not to have scored a point in the Formula 1 season so far.