Former Ferrari efficiency engineer Steven Petrik was put in as a substitute for Bottas’ engineer Alex Chan, whom the Finn had labored with since becoming a member of the workforce in 2022.
Bottas famous that the choice was “not in my palms”, suggesting that this was a part of Audi’s “reconstruction” of the Sauber workforce 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 modifications that may transfer the workforce in the direction of its remaining construction when the rebrand is accomplished on the finish of 2025.
“Andreas Seidl determined to anticipate sure selections, and begin implementing the modifications that can deliver the present construction in the 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 modifications. This isn’t the ultimate construction of the race workforce. As in Hinwil there’s not the ultimate construction of what we would be the Audi F1 workforce and the organisational chart.
“We needed to begin, and Andreas Seidl determined to do it instantly. As a result of we expect that we have to deliver a bit extra expertise, but in addition to deliver individuals that may have know-how from different groups, from high groups and assist us to develop our processes, our evaluation.”
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Staff Kick Sauber, on the grid
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Pictures
Alunni Bravi added Petrik’s introduction as race engineer to Bottas had began on the Pirelli check following the Japanese Grand Prix, and that the workforce had let Bottas know the choice after China.
He added that, though the addition of Petrik arrived in the identical week because the workforce’s announcement that Nico Hulkenberg would be a part of the workforce in 2025, the 2 signings had “no connection”.
“In fact, it is now as much as us to combine the brand new engineer, and in addition, in fact, to create, to determine a very good 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 in the course of the two Pirelli check days.
“And we determined to anticipate this alteration. In fact, once you take a choice, you may at all times take a very good or a foul determination – and solely the time will show if we’ve 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 workforce coming into place as quickly as attainable.”
