F1: Sauber Hires Senior Mercedes Engineer as Programme Director Ahead Of Audi Takeover

Sauber has appointed Stefan Strahnz as Programme Director, reporting directly to CEO Andreas Seidl. This strategic hire enhances Sauber's leadership in anticipation of Audi's upcoming takeover. Strahnz, a seasoned professional with 23 years of experience in Formula 1, joins Sauber following a successful tenure at Mercedes. He will officially start on October 1, after leaving Mercedes at the end of June. Strahnz brings extensive expertise, having held various engineering and management roles throughout his career. Most recently, he served as Chief Engineer for Cost and Commercial Programmes at Mercedes since December 2020. His impressive background also includes leadership positions at Lotus-Renault, Renault, Toyota, and BAR-Honda. Seidl views Strahnz's experience as a significant asset as the team prepares for Audi's full entry into Formula 1 in 2026. His knowledge will be crucial for Sauber's future success as an Audi factory team.

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Andreas Seidl, CEO of Sauber Group: “I am delighted to welcome Stefan to the team, and I am sure that he will bring an incredible amount of experience from his previous roles, in which he won multiple races and championships, to further complement and strengthen our leadership team. With his unique experience, Stefan will play a vital role in driving the team’s overall effectiveness and prepare us on our journey to full finance regulation optimisation as we become the Audi F1 factory team. Working closely with myself, the management team and all our expanding technical, operational and finance departments, Stefan’s main mission is to deliver fully streamlined and optimised F1 car programmes, from concept through to track introduction.”

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Stefan Strähnz, Programme Director of Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber: “I am immensely proud and excited to join the talented people at Sauber Motorsport on our exciting journey to become the Audi F1 factory team in 2026. I have experienced a similar journey in my previous roles, and I will be applying all my learnings and energy into this new and challenging programme to develop the required tools, processes and culture for sustainable long-term on- and off-track success. It is a true privilege to join such an iconic brand as Audi with all its previous technology and motorsport achievements. I look forward to taking a leadership role in our ambitious targets to win championships in F1.”

Formula 1 is poised for a shakeup in 2026 with new regulations for both cars and engines. To capitalize on this shift, Audi is accelerating its takeover of Sauber, transforming the team into a full-fledged factory operation.