Mattia Binotto has been announced as interim team principal at Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber until the arrival of Jonathan Weatley in 2025.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe 54-year-old said in an Audi Media meeting over the Italian Grand Prix weekend “I know the dual roles in Formula 1 well too, so I will accept this job, even if I won’t be attending all the races,” according to Soy Motor.
It is expected that current Stake F1 Team representative and Sauber-Group Managing Director Alessandro Alunni Bravi will continue to be voice of the team in press releases and interviews.
Binotto’s dual role at the team will be interim until Jonathan Wheatley joins as Team Principal. The 57-year-old will leave his current role of Sporting Director at Red Bull Racing at the end of 2024 to join the heavily anticipated Audi-Sauber project. He is expected to join Sauber midway through the 2025 season.
Embed from Getty ImagesSauber have had over 20 months without a team principal, failing to replace Frederic Vasseur, who left his post at the end of the 2022 season on his way to Ferrari.
Binotto will still lead the desicison on who will partner Nico Hülkenberg from 2025. The German confirming his commitment to the Audi project which is set for 2026 onwards.
Current Formula 2 Champion and Kick Sauber reserve driver Théo Pouchaire is in the shortlist for the seat, the French driver taking the F2 Championship while in the Sauber Academy Team last year.
Binotto commented at the meeting last weekend: “Théo Pourchaire is our reserve driver today and part of our family, so there is no doubt that he is on our list.”
Formula 2 driver and McLaren Junior Gabriel Bortoleto is also in the shortlist for the seat. The Brazilian is currently second in the standings of his maiden F2 campaign.
“He (Bortoleto) is doing very well in Formula 2 and has shown that he is a great talent. We are watching what he does in the Championship, as we are also doing with others, but it is not just the drivers we have mentioned.” Binotto also added.
The Hinwil-based organisation is the only team on the grid yet to score any points in the current F1 season, with their highest finishing position of P11 at the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
Feature image credit: Stake F1 Team
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