Sauber hires former Verstappen engineer

Sauber has announced that it has appointed Xevi Pujolar, who race-engineered Max Verstappen during the Dutchman’s Toro Rosso career, as its new head of track engineering.

The 43-year old left the Faenza-based outfit shortly after Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull Racing while Daniil Kvyat returned to Toro Rosso ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. Sauber confirms that Pujolar started at the team’s headquarters in Hinwil after the mandatory factory shutdown.

Having previously worked at Jaguar, Hispania, and Williams, the Catalan will take up his new position from next month’s Singapore Grand Prix onwards.

Meanwhile, Paul Russell, who has been serving as chief race engineer on an interim basis, will be back in his previous position as head of performance Integration.

Pujolar's appointment comes one month after Sauber secured its long-term future in F1 following fresh investment from Swiss company Longbow Finance.

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