Formula 1 News: Stefano Sordo joins Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber has reinforced its growing technical structure with the appointment of Stefano Sordo in the newly created position of Performance Director.

Reporting directly to Technical Director, James Key, Sordo will bring a wealth of Formula One performance-based experience to the team as it continues to progress towards becoming the Audi F1 works team in 2026.

An established and respected figure in the world of motorsport, Sordo worked at the pinnacle of racing for over two decades in roles ranging from Race Engineer to Head of Aerodynamics Performance in various teams, before graduating to the role of Director of Vehicle Performance at McLaren.

During his time at Red Bull Racing, he contributed to the string of successive world championship triumphs between 2010 and 2013, before adding a win to his tally during his stint at McLaren. His latest appointment was as Technical Director for RLL Racing, competing in IndyCar and IMSA in the United States.

This unique experience, and proven track record in race- and championship-winning outfits, will allow the Italian to dive into the fine details of performance, representing a valuable addition to the team as it pushes towards its ambitious objectives.

Andreas Seidl, CEO of Sauber Group: “The appointment of Stefano is an important step in the development of the structure of our technical department. Stefano knows what a winning squad needs, brings a wealth of experience to the team and, with the different array of roles he played in the past, he is perfectly placed to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of our technical operations, and address what is required.

We have a strong technical team in Hinwil, and Stefano’s appointment will help us to harness these skills and turn them into performance as we continue in this crucial time for our outfit, with the Audi F1 works team being readied for its debut.”

James Key, Technical Director of Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber: “As our Technical Departments continue to grow towards our new organization and future ambitions, I am delighted to welcome Stefano to the team as Performance Director. Stefano is a key addition to our team, one which will shape our understanding and priorities for the new cars’ performance direction and in-season development, working closely with myself, as well as our Vehicle Performance, Aerodynamics and Track Engineering groups. Stefano brings a wealth of experience to the team, combined with his focused and hard-pushing approach, and is a strong and influential team player throughout. I welcome Stefano to the team and look forward to working with him towards our goals.”

Stefano Sordo, Performance Director of Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber: “I am delighted to join Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber and take on a role that will have a direct impact on unlocking the performance we already have within our company, and help it reach new heights. The team is at a crucial juncture in its history, with the start of the Audi adventure just around the corner, and I am looking forward to tackling the challenge that lies ahead. I am excited about what the future holds: the targets the team has set for itself are ambitious, but I see a lot of confidence from everyone within this organization.”