Andreas Seidl leaves McLaren for Sauber CEO position

Andreas Seidl is to leave his position as team principal at McLaren Racing, and has been named as the new CEO at Sauber – the position recently vacated by Fred Vasseur, who is replacing Mattia Binotto at Ferrari.

Seidl’s first job at Sauber will be to appoint a new team principal, a position which the outgoing Vasseur occupied as well as CEO. His work previous to re-joining the F1 circus in 2019 with McLaren includes overseeing Porsche’s winning years in LMP1 in the World Endurance Championship, acting as team principal there.

Seidl also has previous at Sauber, having been head of trackside operations during the team’s BMW era in the late 2000s. It’s a period he remembers fondly:

“It is great to join the Sauber Group from January: this is a team with a rich history in Formula 1 and an organisation I know really well from my time working and living in Hinwil for four years,” said Seidl.

“I can’t wait to join the team and work with all the colleagues at the Sauber Group on the ambitious goals we have set together. I want to thank Finn Rausing and everyone at the Sauber Group for their choice: I am looking forward to repaying their trust with my work.”

Seidl’s role will be one to watch with interest over the coming years, as Sauber is to move away from its Alfa Romeo title sponsorship and transition into the recently confirmed Audi F1 entry – with its own engine – from 2026. Audi’s ambitions for the team will no doubt go beyond that of its mid-pack scuffling in recent years, so Seidl will do well to nurture a healthier, more competitive Sauber in that run-up transitional period. 

Stella meanwhile will have McLaren’s delayed renaissance to orchestrate and has had a front-row experience of the team’s struggles over the last year. As Ricciardo moves on and Oscar Piastri takes his place for 2023, and Lando Norris continues to deliver drives worthy of a race-winning car, a step up the grid order is very much what CEO Zak Brown will be wanting to see.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images