Former Ferrari efficiency engineer Steven Petrik was put in as a alternative for Bottas’ engineer Alex Chan, whom the Finn had labored with since becoming a member of the group in 2022.
Bottas famous that the choice was “not in my fingers”, suggesting that this was a part of Audi’s “reconstruction” of the Sauber group forward of the German model’s entry as a full works outfit in 2026.
Sauber consultant Alunni Bravi revealed that this was largely the case, and that CEO Andreas Seidl had been making adjustments that may transfer the group in direction of its remaining construction when the rebrand is accomplished on the finish of 2025.
“Andreas Seidl determined to anticipate sure choices, and begin implementing the adjustments that can carry the present construction in direction of the ultimate construction that we are going to have in place in ’26,” Alunni Bravi defined.
“However we would have liked to begin implementing these adjustments. This isn’t the ultimate construction of the race group. As in Hinwil, there may be not the ultimate construction of what would be the Audi F1 group and the organisational chart.
“We needed to begin, and Andreas Seidl determined to do it instantly. As a result of we predict that we have to carry a bit extra expertise, but in addition to carry folks that may have know-how from different groups, from high groups and assist us to develop our processes, our evaluation.”
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Workforce Kick Sauber, on the grid
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Alunni Bravi added Petrik’s introduction as race engineer to Bottas had began on the Pirelli take a look at following the Japanese Grand Prix, and that the group had let Bottas know the choice after China.
He added that, though the addition of Petrik arrived in the identical week because the group’s announcement that Nico Hulkenberg would be a part of the group in 2025, the 2 signings had “no connection”.
“After all, it is now as much as us to combine the brand new engineer, and in addition, in fact, to create, to ascertain working relationship, but in addition private relationship between Valtteri and race engineer.
“We mentioned this with Valtteri after China. There was a gathering instantly after the race. Steven Petrik was already race engineer of Valtteri in Suzuka through the two Pirelli take a look at days.
“And we determined to anticipate this alteration. After all, if you take a choice, you’ll be able to at all times take or a foul choice – and solely time will show if we now have been good in taking this one.
“However this… there was no hyperlink between the change of the race engineer and the announcement of Nico [Hulkenberg]. It was simply one of many first steps that we needed to implement, to have a brand new organisation additionally within the race group coming into place as quickly as attainable.”