Stefano Sordo joins Sauber as the team’s new Performance Director to support the build-up to Audi’s entry into Formula 1 for the 2026 season
The transition from Sauber as a private team to Audi as the works team for the 2026 Formula 1 season is becoming increasingly concrete. The racing team from Hinwil in Switzerland has now created the new role of Performance Director and found a man with Formula 1 experience for this position in Stefano Sordo. In future, Sordo will report directly to Head of Engineering James Key
And he comes highly recommended: Sordo has been involved in international motorsport for over two decades and actively helped shape the first successful Red Bull era from 2010 to 2013 as a senior aerodynamicist, among other things. As Head of Vehicle Performance at McLaren, he was then involved in the project that resulted in the one-two victory at Monza in 2021.
Most recently, Sordo worked for the top US team Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan in the IndyCar and IMSA sports car series in the USA.
In his new role, Sordo wants to “unleash the potential we already have in the company and take it to a new level”, he promises.
Sauber is at a “decisive crossroads” because the Audi project has already started. “I’m already looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead of us,” says Sordo. “The team has set itself ambitious goals, but I see a lot of self-confidence in everyone here. “
How team boss Seidl explains the new addition
Sauber Managing Director Andreas Seidl sees the signing of Sordo as an “important step in structuring the technical department” in the team and says: “Stefano knows what a winning team needs. He brings his wealth of experience to us, having held various positions in the past.” From race engineer to department manager, Sordo has done (almost) everything
Seidl: “He is perfectly suited to analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of our technical approach and doing what is necessary.” The aim is to “transform existing skills into performance”, emphasizes Seidl.
What Head of Engineering Key expects from Sordo
As Overall Head of Engineering at Sauber, Key also welcomes Sordo in his new role and says: “He will help us to identify the priorities in the development direction of the new cars [for 2026].” Sordo will also be closely involved in development during the racing season, “in close collaboration with me and our [technical] working groups,” explains Key.
