Sauber announce personnel changes amid restructure as Inaki Rueda joins following Ferrari departure

Former Ferrari Head of Race Strategy and Sporting Inaki Rueda has joined Sauber as part of the team’s on-going restructure to become Audi’s works Formula 1 squad in 2026.

Rueda has been on gardening leave since leaving Ferrari at the end of last year, and joins the Swiss team as a replacement for veteran Beat Zehnder, who moves into the new position of Director of Signature Programs and Operations.

READ MORE: Experienced hands or a rapid rookie – who’s in the frame for the vacant Sauber seat?

Rueda will be responsible for all sporting activities, including managing the relationship with governing body the FIA and all trackside regulations matters.

Zehnder, who has been with Sauber since the squad’s F1 debut in 1993, will move into his role that Sauber say will involve ensuring “the rich heritage of Sauber Motorsport continues to grow, uphold its core values and lead efforts to innovate and shape its future” in 2025.

The 58-year-old will also help supervise the transition of the new structure through next season.

The team have also signed Giampaolo Dall’Ara to the newly-created role of Head of Racing Engineering. He will focus on the department’s operations both at their Hinwil factory in Switzerland and trackside.

READ MORE: Binotto admits turning Audi into F1 winners will be ‘like climbing Everest’ as he sets out timeline for success

The Italian has been running his own consultancy firm since 2016 and previously held roles at the Alfa Romeo DTM team and Sauber Motorsport as Head of Test Engineering and Head of Track Engineering respectively.

Sauber say the leadership changes “infuse the team with renewed confidence as they strengthen the organisation as it prepares for future challenges and opportunities, with a bright future as a factory team ahead”.

These are the first major changes since new CEO Mattia Binotto joined the organisation in the summer, taking over from Andreas Seidl.

The team are still deciding on the identity of their second driver for 2025, having already signed Nico Hulkenberg to one seat from Haas.

READ MORE: Colapinto insists his goal is to stay in F1 as he responds to 2025 Sauber links

Incumbent Valtteri Bottas and F2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto are the current frontrunners to get the nod.

The team are currently bottom of the constructors’ championship and searching for their first point of the season with four Grands Prix to go.