Mattia Binotto returns to the world of Formula 1.

Audi announced that the former Ferrari team boss will join the company’s F1 project in August, taking on the role of chief operations and chief technical officer at Sauber Motorsport AG ahead of its debut in 2026. He will be tasked with “responsibility and accountability for the operational management and sporting success of the racing team.”

The move is part of a major management shake-up. As part of the restructuring, Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl and former chairman Oliver Hoffmann are leaving the project. Seidl left McLaren in 2022 to join Sauber ahead of the Audi takeover. Audi said this “reorganization of the control structure” would ensure “autonomy and independence of the Audi F1 project”.

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, who will become chairman of the board of management of Sauber Motorsport AG, said in a press release: “Our aim is to bring the entire Formula 1 project to F1 speed through clear management structures, defined responsibilities, reduced interfaces and efficient decision-making processes. To this end, the team needs to be able to act independently and quickly.”

The management restructure comes as Audi steps up preparations for its debut as it takes over the Sauber-run team. Sauber are currently the only team to have failed to score points this season and are yet to confirm their 2025 driver line-up, which currently consists solely of Nico Hülkenberg.

“The possibility of competing for Audi is something very special,” Hülkenberg said when the multi-year deal was announced. “For a German manufacturer to enter Formula 1 with such determination is a unique opportunity. It is a great honour for me to represent the factory team of such a car brand with a power unit made in Germany.”

Binotto, who has 25 years of F1 experience, will report to the board. The Swiss-born Italian was part of Ferrari from 1995 until the end of the 2022 season, rising through the ranks until he was appointed to lead the engine and chassis technical departments. Binotto became Ferrari’s team principal in 2019 but left at the end of 2022 after the team failed to win the constructors’ championship, finishing 205 points behind Red Bull. Fred Vasseur, previously of Sauber, became Ferrari’s team principal in 2023.

Required readings

(Photo: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)