Here is a piece of news that genuinely changes the fabric of the pit lane: Beat Zehnder, the absolute rock of Sauber and its transition into Audi, is leaving the organization at the end of 2026. Audi announced the departure on Friday ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, explaining that he will depart "following the restructuring of its operations ahead of the 2027 season".
Let us talk about what 39 years with a single squad actually looks like because it is staggering. The 60-year-old first arrived at Sauber Motorsport back in 1988, a full five years before the operation even stepped foot into Formula 1. Before the F1 era, he tasted glory with their sportscar program, winning both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Sportscar Championship.
Beat has been a mentor to hundreds of team members and drivers who have passed through Hinwil over the years,
When the Formula 1 team officially opened its doors in 1993, Zehnder was right there on day one. He stepped up to the role of Team Manager the very next year and eventually earned a spot on the management committee in 2018. Over that incredible span, the Swiss engineer worked on 601 consecutive Grands Prix, a testament to a level of dedication we rarely ever see in modern motorsport.
During his time at the Hinwil-based squad, his path crossed with an insane roster of talent. He worked alongside world champions Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel, as well as race winners like Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez, Robert Kubica, Felipe Massa, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. When Audi eventually took over Sauber to build their works team, Zehnder transitioned into a factory-based role, taking charge of Audi's heritage activities as Director of Signature Programs and Operations.
Audi paid tribute to his legendary tenure by noting his immense impact on the organization. "Beat has been a mentor to hundreds of team members and drivers who have passed through Hinwil over the years," the team stated. "During his tenure, he enjoyed both the highs and lows of working in such a demanding sport, never losing his professionalism, his relentless competitive streak and desire to win. We thank him for 39 years of outstanding service and wish him all the very best for the future."
