Audi’s Sauber takeover “isn’t going particularly smoothly,” according to F1 insider

Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft claims that the transition of Audi taking over Sauber “isn’t going particularly smoothly.”

The German automaker is set to fully take over the Swiss-based team in 2026. However, the transition process has already begun. Speaking ahead of Sauber’s last season in Formula 1, Croft explained:

“Since he [Nico Hulkenberg] signed, the CEO has changed. Andreas Seidl brought him in.

“They are without a team principal until April. From everything you hear it’s not going particularly smoothly, in terms of the transition to Audi. I hope this is a year for Sauber, their last in F1, where they have a better year.”

Croft added:

“One of the problems that the Audi project has is the location. Hinwil, as spectacular as Switzerland is, is not a great place to attract staff to. Switzerland is expensive, and you’re uprooting people.

“They are now announcing that they need a base in the UK to make better use of talent. I am surprised that didn’t happen two years ago. Surprised it wasn’t on the radar. Persuading people to move to Switzerland, to uproot their families, is not an easy thing to do. Getting the right people in is half the battle.

“We don’t know how good, or not, their engine will be. But there’s pressure on Audi to not be a back of the grid team. Hulkenberg, I hope his experience and ability to develop a car, will be a massive asset to that team. Gabriel Bortoleto is a good choice alongside him. He’s a fine driver who will attract sponsorship from Brazil.”

After finishing last in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship with just four points, the team decided to employ an all-new driver lineup for 2025. Nico Hulkenberg joined after parting ways with Haas, which was not completely shocking as Audi has been keen to sign a German driver. Hulkenberg is joined by rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, who is coming into F1 on the back of winning the Formula 2 Championship. 

The team is also set to welcome Jonathan Wheatley to the role of team principal in April after serving as Red Bull’s sporting director from 2018 to 2024. 

In August 2024, Sauber also announced that Seidl was set to be replaced as CEO by former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto. The Swiss-Italian will stand in as interim team principal until Wheatley arrives after his Red Bull gardening leave comes to an end.