Mattia Binotto joins Audi’s F1 team as COO and CTO

He will be taking the place of departing Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl, who had joined the team from McLaren at the end of 2022. Oliver Hoffmann will also be leaving his chairman of the board of directors’ position, with Audi CEO Gernot Döllner taking over in future.

Binotto is set to join the team from August 1 as part of what Audi is calling a ‘realignment of the control structure of the future factory team’. “Our aim is to bring the entire Formula 1 project up to F1 speed by means of clear management structures, defined responsibilities, reduced interfaces, and efficient decision-making processes,” clarified Döllner.

“For this purpose, the team must be able to act independently and quickly. I would like to thank Oliver and Andreas for their important work in establishing our entry into Formula 1 and their commitment in preparing it.“

Binotto previously left the role of Ferrari team principal at the end of 2022 after a four-year run in the lead position. Though his time in charge of the Maranello team yielded mixed results, Audi will of course also be well aware of the two decades prior he spent at the team, which included important roles during its early 2000s era of F1 dominance.

“I am delighted that we have been able to recruit Mattia Binotto for our ambitious Formula 1 project,” Döllner said of Binotto’s appointment. 

“With his extensive experience of more than 25 years in Formula 1, he will undoubtedly be able to make a decisive contribution for Audi.”

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.