Sauber launches UK engineering hub ahead of Audi F1 takeover in 2026

Sauber is ready to determine a United Kingdom base because it prepares to morph into the Audi Method 1 manufacturing facility group in 2026.

The group’s headquarters will stay within the Swiss municipality of Hinwil, whereas working its energy unit operation in Neuburg, Germany.

However it’ll now open a 3rd location within the UK’s ‘motorsport valley’, which covers England’s South East and Midlands areas the place seven F1 groups are at present based mostly.

Sauber’s transfer is to capitalise on attracting one of the best expertise accessible by interesting to employees already employed at groups across the Silverstone space.

The Swiss outfit, which completed backside of the 2024 F1 constructors’ standings, hopes that the brand new engineering hub might be opened this summer season permitting newly-recruited employees to stay within the UK relatively than relocating abroad.

This initiative is a key element of the Audi venture’s long-term technique to develop its technical group. Sauber says it’s taking a look at potential websites together with Bicester, Silverstone and Milton Keynes forward of Audi’s full takeover for the 2026 marketing campaign.

Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO of Sauber Motorsport, said: “We’re excited to determine our technical centre within the UK to enhance our key web site in Hinwil, which is able to proceed to guide our most important engineering operations and expertise the most important group development.

“Increasing into the UK permits us to stay near one of many world’s most dynamic motorsport ecosystems.

“Our imaginative and prescient is to create a powerful, collaborative community throughout Hinwil and the UK, driving innovation and efficiency.”

The UK engineering hub won’t kind a part of the proposed FIA ‘value cap offset’ for 2026, which is ready for Sauber to profit from a better value cap because of Switzerland’s excessive value of residing.

Sauber has lengthy argued its employees prices are greater consequently, in comparison with its rival groups within the UK and Italy (the place Ferrari and Racing Bulls are based mostly).

“It’s our duty to be honest,” FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis mentioned on the 2024 United States Grand Prix.

“It turned apparent to us that salaries in sure international locations are a lot, a lot greater and price of life is far greater in sure international locations.

“I see it myself, I dwell in Geneva. Each time I’m going to the grocery store I give it some thought. And we felt {that a} group based mostly in a excessive labour-cost nation like Switzerland would find yourself having roughly 30 p.c and even 40 p.c fewer individuals engaged on the automotive, which we felt was basically unfair.

“We have determined that this might both result in us attempting to take some protections from a regulatory level, or it might ultimately imply that groups couldn’t function and a group like Sauber must mainly shut and transfer to a different nation, which we do not assume is the suitable method for a world championship to function.”