Inaki Rueda Joins Sauber Team as Sporting Director

Inaki Rueda, former Ferrari strategy head, has joined Sauber as sporting director, reuniting with ex-boss Mattia Binotto. Sauber, set to become Audi's factory team by 2026, will see Rueda oversee sporting activities and FIA relations. Giampaolo Dall'Ara also returns to the team.

Inaki Rueda, the former head of strategy at Ferrari, has taken on the role of sporting director at Sauber, marking a reunion with his former boss, Mattia Binotto. The announcement came on Wednesday, just days before the Brazilian Grand Prix held at São Paulo's Interlagos circuit.

Rueda's appointment is part of a significant transition for the Swiss-based team, which is poised to become the Audi factory team in 2026. He succeeds Beat Zehnder, a long-time Sauber figure, now reassigned to the company's heritage operations. Rueda will be responsible for spearheading all sporting endeavors and managing trackside regulatory engagement with the FIA.

Further changes include Giampaolo Dall'Ara returning to his role as head of race engineering, after previously departing to establish his own consultancy. Stepping into the roles of Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer, Binotto's move to Sauber began in August. Next year, the team will also welcome Jonathan Wheatley from Red Bull as principal.