Sauber adds former Red Bull, McLaren engineer to technical team

Sauber is strategically adding firepower to its Formula 1 team in preparation for its transformation into the Audi works team in 2026.

The latest addition to their roster is Stefano Sordo, a seasoned engineer appointed to the newly created role of performance director.

Sordo boasts an impressive motorsport career spanning over two decades. His journey has seen him tackle diverse engineering roles, from the intricate world of race engineering to leading aerodynamic performance teams.

His expertise played a key role in Red Bull's dominant championship run from 2010 to 2013. He later went on to leverage his skills as director of vehicle performance at McLaren.

Most recently, Sordo served as technical director for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, a force to be reckoned with in both IndyCar and IMSA.

“The appointment of Stefano is an important step in the development of the structure of our technical department,” commented Sauber Group CEO Andreas Seidl.

“Stefano knows what a winning squad needs, brings a wealth of experience to the team and, with the different array of roles he played in the past, he is perfectly placed to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of our technical operations, and address what is required.

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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.”

At Hinwil, the Italian will answer directly to Sauber technical director James Key.

“I am delighted to join 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,” Sordo said.

“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.”

James Key added: “As our technical departments continue to grow towards our new organisation and future ambitions, I am delighted to welcome Stefano to the team as performance director.

"Stefano is a key addition to our team, one which will shape our understanding and priorities for the new cars’ performance direction and in-season development, working closely with myself, as well as our vehicle performance, aerodynamics and track engineering groups.

"Stefano brings a wealth of experience to the team, combined with his focused and hard-pushing approach, and is a strong and influential team player throughout. I welcome Stefano to the team and look forward to working with him towards our goals.”

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