Sports · Motorsport · 2 hrs ago
Beat Zehnder to leave Audi F1 team at end of 2026
Beat Zehnder will leave Audi’s F1 team at the end of December 2026, after the team restructures its operations ahead of the 2027 season.
He joined Sauber in 1988 as a mechanic and moved with the Swiss team into Formula 1 in 1993.
He worked at 601 consecutive Formula 1 races, first as team manager and later in other roles.
Sauber became an Audi works team as the Swiss outfit’s identity changed, and Zehnder most recently led heritage activities.
His career spanned Sauber’s highs and lows, including its only Grand Prix win, with Robert Kubica at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.
Audi thanked him for decades of service and said he had mentored hundreds of team members and drivers; he is due to leave at year’s end.
Audi says veteran engineer and director Beat Zehnder will leave its Formula 1 operation at the end of 2026.
The team says his departure follows a restructuring of operations ahead of the 2027 season.
Zehnder joined Peter Sauber’s sportscar programme in 1988 and moved with the team into Formula 1 in 1993.
He was present at 601 consecutive Formula 1 grands prix and held senior roles including team manager and sporting director.
Audi thanked him for what it described as 39 years of service.
- Who
- Beat Zehnder, a veteran engineer and director at Audi’s Formula 1 team.
- What
- He will leave the team at the end of 2026.
- When
- At the end of December 2026.
- Where
- The Hinwil-based operation, which became Audi’s Formula 1 team.
- Why
- Audi said the departure follows a restructuring of operations ahead of the 2027 season.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Peter Sauber hired Zehnder as a mechanic for the sportscar programme.
Zehnder moved with Sauber into Formula 1.
Sauber claimed its only grand prix win at the Canadian Grand Prix with Roberto Kubica.
Zehnder stepped away from his role as Sauber prepared to become Audi’s works operation.
Zehnder is set to leave Audi’s team following an operational restructuring.
- Age
- 60
- Consecutive Formula 1 grands prix
- 601
- World Sportscar Championship races
- 36
- Audi departure
- End of December 2026
- Restructuring ahead of
- 2027 season
3 sources
What people are saying
Audi Revolut F1 Team places on record its sincere thanks to Beat Zehnder, who will leave the team at the end of December 2026 following the restructuring of its operations ahead of the 2027 season.
Beat has been a mentor to hundreds of team members and drivers who have passed through Hinwil over the years.
We thank him for 39 years of outstanding service and wish him all the very best for the future.