Sauber has made changes to its structure and taken three important personnel decisions – Beat Zehnder is getting a new role
The transition from Sauber to Audi continues to take shape. On Wednesday morning, Sauber Motorsport AG announced three important changes to its management structure, including a new role for long-standing team manager Beat Zehnder.
The 58-year-old, who has been with the Swiss team since the 1980s and often represented the Formula One team to the FIA in his role as sports director, will step down from his post and be given the somewhat unwieldy title of “Director of Signature Programs and Operations” from 2025.
Sauber says: “In this new role, Zehnder will ensure that Sauber Motorsport’s rich heritage continues to grow, that it upholds its core values and that it leads the way in innovation and shaping the team’s future.”
Next year, Zehnder is to “exercise a supervisory role to ensure the best possible transition as the team grows into its new structures,” the team said.
His previous job will be taken over by Ignacio, called Inaki, Rueda, whom Sauber was able to pry away from Ferrari. The Spaniard, who has also previously worked at Jordan, Renault and Lotus, served as the Scuderia’s sporting director and chief strategist until 2023, among other roles, but was removed from the Formula One project ahead of the 2024 season.
He will soon be responsible for all sporting activities, regulatory issues and negotiations with the FIA on behalf of Sauber.
Furthermore, Giampaolo Dall’Ara will take on the newly created role of “Head of Race Engineering”, overseeing operations at the Hinwil plant and at the race track.
His appointment is aimed at “optimizing the coordination of all performance-related aspects of the car and ensuring a common operational approach to issues affecting the performance of the car,” Sauber said. In doing so, he will also work closely with Sauber’s technical group.
Dall’Ara has an extensive motorsport background and had previously worked for Sauber in DTM and other areas before setting up his own consultancy in 2016.
The latest hires follow a management shake-up at Sauber over the summer. Former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto was appointed as chief operating officer and chief technical officer, while both CEO Andreas Seidl and chairman Oliver Hoffmann left the team.
Sauber has also hired Stefan Strähnz from Mercedes for the new position of Program Director.
“These leadership changes give the team renewed confidence and strengthen the organization as it prepares for future challenges and opportunities and looks ahead to a bright future as a works team,” Sauber said.
