Audi has announced that ex-Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto will head the marque’s Formula 1 venture amid a management shake-up that sees Andreas Seidl depart.
Audi has published that Binotto, who has not been involved in F1 since leaving Ferrari in late 2022, will become the team’s Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer.
Binotto will start work on August 1 as the Sauber-run operation prepares to evolve into Audi as a works F1 entrant once all-new technical rules are introduced in 2026.
The Swiss-Italian’s arrival will see Seidl, who moved from McLaren, vacate his past role as CEO, while Chairman of the Board of Directors Oliver Hoffman has also left.
Seidl’s exit comes with Sauber having endured a disastrous campaign on the track with an uncompetitive C44 car as it remains the sole team on the grid still to score.
“I would like to thank Oliver and Andreas for their important work in establishing our entry into F1 and their commitment in preparing it,” Audi CEO Gernot Doellner said.
Binotto had been ingrained in the Ferrari setup since 1995 and progressed through the engine and chassis technical departments to ascend to team principal in 2019.
However, the Italian marque’s title challenge in 2022 unravelling in spectacular fashion prompted him to decide to leave his role, with Frederic Vasseur taking his spot.
“I am delighted that we have been able to recruit Mattia Binotto for our ambitious Formula 1 project,” Doellner added.
“With his extensive experience of more than 25 years in Formula 1, he will undoubtedly be able to make a decisive contribution for Audi.”
“Our aim is to bring the entire Formula 1 project up to F1 speed by means of clear management structures, defined responsibilities, reduced interfaces, and efficient decision-making processes. For this purpose, the team must be able to act independently and quickly.”
