As Sauber gears up to transform into Audi’s official F1 team in 2026, it has announced several key appointments aimed at strengthening its leadership and engineering capabilities.

Among the notable recruits is former Ferrari Race Strategist Ignacio Rueda, who will take over as Sauber’s Sporting Director.

The Spaniard, an experienced strategist known for his time on Ferrari’s pitwall and his previous roles at Jordan and Renault/Lotus, brings a wealth of expertise to Sauber’s race-day operations.

The role of Sporting Director has been held for years by Beat Zehnder, a fixture at Sauber since its early days in F1. Zehnder will now transition to a newly created role overseeing special programs and operations.

“In his new position, Ignacio Rueda will be responsible for overseeing all sporting activities, managing the relationship with FIA and all regulations matters trackside,” Sauber's statement reads.

Additionally, Giampaolo Dall’Ara, a former Sauber engineering head who served with the team from 2000 to 2015, will return as Head of Racing Engineering.

Dall’Ara will lead the team’s engineering operations both at their Hinwil base and trackside, focusing on optimizing car performance and operational alignment.

This wave of new appointments follows a larger management restructuring over the summer, which saw former Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto joining Sauber as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer.

With these strategic hires, Sauber is positioning itself for a seamless transition into Audi’s works team, building a solid foundation for success in 2026 and beyond.