F1 News: Sauber To Increase Hiring As Audi F1 Entry Nears In 2026

Sauber will continue hiring staff as it slowly approaches an Audi takeover.

The managing director of Sauber F1 team, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, confirmed that the team will continue to hire and expand its workforce as Audi's takeover of the outfit approaches. It was highlighted that hiring the right individuals was a greater priority than developing the infrastructure at this point.

The Hinwil-based outfit's financial position improved after investment from Alfa Romeo in 2018, which helped hire more desirable talent for the team to develop and compete in the prestigious sport. However, the five-year-old partnership ended this year as the Italian brand decided to pull out of the deal. Thus, for 2024, the team will be known as 'Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber,' although this is expected to change before that actual season begins. 

Despite these changes, Sauber is continuing to focus on its recruitment exercises, thanks to the deal confirmed with Audi in 2022, where the German brand is set to take over the team operations entirely in 2026. Speaking to the media, Alunni Bravi revealed that the team will focus on investing in human and technological resources. 

He said:

"We have undertaken an important recruitment plan. 

“Of course, the result of the plan will be more visible in the next few years, because with every new appointment normally you have a gardening leave period to join a competitor.

“So we started with the recruitment. Of course, we will ramp up our structure, both in terms of head counts, in terms of technology, in the next few years because all the investment that needs to be made and put in place requires also a bit of time.

“I always said that, financially speaking, there was no problem. We started our journey in 2017 when I joined the team with Fred Vasseur. We were around 220 people, and we have reached more than 500 people this year, and we will take a step in terms of headcount also next year.

“But it's a process that takes time, and each year there is a plan to expand our departments, our facilities, and of course, our staff.”

The investment plan until 2030 is in discussion with Audi. He revealed:

“I will say that there is a normal dynamic between the two shareholders, where all the investment plan for the future until 2030 at least is in discussion.

"And we are just working according to the governance in place. Of course, the governance will change according to the different steps in terms of acquisition that Audi will take. This is normal, as in any company where you have two shareholders."

Fortunately for Sauber, it will benefit from an increase in capex that will boost spending power than the teams leading in the front. Alunni Bravi concluded:

“And these extra allowances for capex that have been approved in the F1 Commission and by the FIA will allow us to accelerate that investment plan.

“But as always this is a technology sport. So we need time. We need to take the right decisions. And this is why [Sauber CEO] Andreas [Seidl] is fully focused, of course, on the transformation process as our leader of the team to allocate the budget when it’s necessary, when it’s more performance-related.”