Audi present new performance director: old friend of Red Bull

Old friend Red Bull and McLaren

Preparations for the switch to Audi are in full swing. Earlier this year, it was announced that Nico Hulkenberg will switch to Stake F1 Team after the current season. Who will be his teammate is as yet unknown.

With the appointment of Sordo, Audi are already bringing a man with experience to the stable. Back in 2005, the Italian was race engineer at Red Bull Racing, where he returned as team leader of aerodynamic performance after a one-year jaunt at Toro Rosso. In 2014, he was promoted to the head of aerodynamic performance. In 2016, Sordo made the move to McLaren, where he became the head of car performance. In 2021, he was promoted to the director of this department, before leaving for the United States in September 2022 to become technical director at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. This team compete in IndyCar.

Andreas Seidl, Sauber Group CEO, reacted elated about Sordo's arrival: "We have a strong technical team in Hinwil, and Stefano’s appointment will help us to harness these skills and turn them into performance as we continue in this crucial time for our outfit, with the Audi F1 works team being readied for its debut."

Sordo himself is also looking forward to his time with the team: "I am delighted to join Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber and take on a role that will have a direct impact on unlocking the performance we already have within our company, and help it reach new heights. The team is at a crucial juncture in its history, with the start of the Audi adventure just around the corner, and I am looking forward to tackling the challenge that lies ahead. I am excited about what the future holds: the targets the team has set for itself are ambitious, but I see a lot of confidence from everyone within this organisation."