Vasseur joins Ferrari as new Team Principal, McLaren’s Seidl tipped for Alfa move

Alfa Romeo boss and Sauber Motorsport CEO Fred Vasseur is to replace Mattia Binotto as Ferrari Team Principal.

Vasseur was Ferrari’s first choice to replace Binotto and the Italian team have moved quickly to secure their man.

The Frenchman said: “I am truly delighted and honoured to take over the leadership of Scuderia Ferrari as Team Principal. As someone who has always held a lifelong passion for motorsport, Ferrari has always represented the very pinnacle of the racing world to me.

“I look forward to working with the talented and truly passionate team in Maranello to honour the history and heritage of the Scuderia and deliver for our Tifosi around the world.”

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said: “We are delighted to welcome Fred Vasseur to Ferrari as our Team Principal. Throughout his career he has successfully combined his technical strengths as a trained engineer with a consistent ability to bring out the best in his drivers and teams,” adding: “This approach and his leadership are what we need to push Ferrari forward with renewed energy.”

On his departure from Sauber, 54-year-old Vasseur said: “I owe a debt of gratitude to every single employee of the team, as they are the ones who got this team back on their feet and climbing the ladder of our sport.”

Vasseur joined Sauber in 2017, when the team was rooted to the bottom on the Constructors’ table, but over the course of his six seasons at the helm, guided the team to the back of F1’s midfield, with ex-Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas spearheading the 2022 effort, as the team finished sixth, their highest placing for a decade.

Who next for Alfa Romeo?

Sauber, who compete as Alfa Romeo in a sponsorship deal, will become Audi’s works F1 team in 2026 have not announced a replacement but The Race are reporting that McLaren’s Andreas Seidl is set to join the Hinwill outfit ahead of Audi’s entrance to F1.

Seidl has previous experience with the Volkswagen group, having led the Porsche LMP1 project between 2013 and 2019, when the German joined McLaren.

Vasseur and Seidl’s expected moves follow Binotto’s departure, as well as Monday’s announcement that Williams have parted ways with Jost Capito.

After a summer driver market that was full of unexpected turns and controversy, the winter period is proving just as chaotic with the senior roles in F1.