Sauber Method 1 technical director James Key has outlined a phased method to the crew’s transformation into an all-out Audi-backed power, emphasizing that the “remaining product” will solely be realized in 2027, the second 12 months of the German producer’s full involvement.
Sauber concluded its partnership with Alfa Romeo on the finish of 2023 and can run underneath the Stake F1 banner of its major sponsor in 2024 and 2025 forward of its transformation into the Audi works outfit in 2026.
The Swiss outfit is present process a big revamp, increasing its workforce and enhancing its infrastructure to align with Audi’s stringent requirements.
Nevertheless, Key, who took on the technical directorship in September 2023, acknowledges that the overhaul is not going to be absolutely full in time for the German producer’s deliberate entry into F1 underneath the revamped laws in 2026.
This delay stems from the intensive nature of the transformation, which entails integrating Audi’s technical experience, methodologies, and tradition into the Sauber operation.
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The crew’s infrastructure, processes, and personnel should be meticulously aligned with Audi’s expectations to make sure seamless integration and maximize the potential of the partnership.
“By way of subsequent steps, there is a very important well-documented plan,” Key instructed Autosport.com.
“We’re already performing on it. And attracting all the suitable expertise to the crew to hitch some excellent expertise that is already there’s clearly a precedence that we’re engaged on laborious within the background.
Sauber Motorsport’s facility at Hinwil
“There’s a lead time to individuals in fact, with backyard intervals. So we’re conscious of that. We’re definitely not ready for that, there’s loads of stuff we are able to do now with none further individuals and so forth.
“However in the end, to attain our targets, we now have to increase in all the important thing areas, and actually in all areas. All over the place has obtained to take a step up no matter the place we’re in that course of.
“So that is the short-term ambition, precisely what we’re doing now, working carefully with Andreas [Seidl] on that for ’24, in addition to the longer term. After which we’ll see how we go.
“I feel in the end, we’re most likely not going to be the ultimate product that we’re aiming for till about ’27 time actually, as a result of there’s a lot to do.
“However we’ll be in much better form as we method ’26. And that can give us the chance to take the step ahead we have to.”
©AlfaRomeo
Key’s transfer final 12 months from McLaren to Sauber was a homecoming of types for the British engineer who loved a stint with the Hinwil squad between 2010 and 2012.
Over a decade later, Key says the Swiss outfit continues to be rising.
“The crew is rising, it is truly a really younger crew, although I really feel very previous now in Sauber,” he mentioned. “I felt fairly younger once I joined it earlier than! However it’s nonetheless rising.
“I feel the interval of stability it is had with the present main shareholder has been excellent for it certainly. And it has been in a position to develop underneath that situation. And now it is obtained, in fact, thrilling future steps to soak up the very close to future as nicely.
“I feel loads of it’s sort of consolidating what it has. I feel being a comparatively new member of the crew now you may see the place there’s potential, you may sort of recognise there is a hole there that we are able to fill fairly simply with the expertise we now have within the crew, or with the amenities we now have on the crew already.”
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