Source: Official Team Post via X
Audi's Beat Zehnder to Depart at End of 2026 Season
Audi's Beat Zehnder will conclude his long-standing tenure with the team at the end of 2026. The Swiss engineer has been a pivotal figure since Sauber's early days.
Veteran Swiss engineer Beat Zehnder is set to leave Audi, the Formula 1 team formerly known as Sauber, at the end of the 2026 season. The 60-year-old has been with Sauber Motorsport since 1988, initially joining five years before the team entered the Formula 1 scene. Zehnder's impressive resume includes victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Sportscar Championship as part of Sauber's sportscar efforts.
Zehnder was present when the Sauber F1 team launched in 1993 and quickly rose to become the Team Manager the following year. His ascent continued as he was appointed to the management committee in 2018. Over his career, Zehnder has been a part of 601 consecutive Grands Prix, marking nearly four decades with the Hinwil-based team.
Throughout his tenure, he has collaborated with notable drivers such as world champions Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel, as well as race winners Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez, Robert Kubica, Felipe Massa, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Upon Audi's acquisition of Sauber as their works team, Zehnder transitioned to a factory role, overseeing Audi's heritage activities as the Director of Signature Programs and Operations.
Ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, Audi announced on Friday that Zehnder will depart as they restructure before the 2027 season. Audi praised Zehnder's mentorship of countless team members and drivers, noting his unwavering professionalism and competitive spirit. They expressed gratitude for his 39 years of exceptional service and wished him well in his future endeavors.