Despite the fact that the 2026 Formula 1 season is still some way off, Sauber is working hard behind the scenes toward that target date, marked as crucial due to Audi’s arrival. The Swiss team is continuing its recruitment drive to bolster its organizational structure on both technical and operational levels.
On Wednesday, Sauber announced the arrival of Iñaki Rueda from Ferrari, who will take on the role of Sporting Director, and Giampaolo Dall’Ara, who will serve as the new Head of Engineering, with a dual objective in mind. The Swiss team is hiring not only to reinforce certain key areas but also to expand its overall staff, as previous limited investments before Audi’s arrival meant the team lacked a structure large enough to compete with the top teams.
In his latest interview, Mattia Binotto, who took over the F1 project for Audi after Andreas Seidl’s departure, noted that this is a long-term investment, yet emphasized the need for a strong foundation to grow and reach the top. This has included the recent addition of experienced figures like Jonathan Wheatley and Stefan Strähnz to help transform the team.
Ignacio “Iñaki” Rueda will join as Sporting Director, taking on the role previously held by Beat Zehnder, who will move to a new position as Program and Operations Director starting in 2025. Rueda brings extensive F1 experience, having held prominent positions at Jordan Grand Prix, Renault, Lotus F1 Team, and, most recently, Ferrari, where he was promoted to Sporting Director in 2021.
In his new role, Iñaki Rueda will oversee all sporting activities, manage relations with the FIA, and handle all regulatory matters at the track. He takes over a position that Beat Zehnder has held for a long time; Zehnder has been part of the Sauber family since the 1980s but will transition next year to oversee programs and operations. Throughout 2025, Beat Zehnder will play a supervisory role to ensure the smoothest transition possible as the team expands within its new facilities.
Joining Iñaki Rueda is Giampaolo Dall’Ara, who will take on the new position of Head of Engineering, overseeing operations both at Hinwil and at the track. This appointment aims to improve alignment across all performance-related aspects of the car and to ensure a cohesive operational approach for performance on the track.
Dall’Ara, a graduate of the Polytechnic University of Milan, brings extensive motorsport experience, including key roles with the Alfa Romeo DTM team and Sauber Motorsport, where he worked as Head of Test Engineering and Head of Track Engineering. Since 2016, he has managed his own consulting firm. His goal is to drive race performance optimization and collaboration with the Technical Group.
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