Audi ‘surprised’ current F1 team boss with interest in replacing Andreas Seidl at Sauber

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A current Formula 1 team principal has admitted he was ‘surprised’ to learn that Audi is now interested in possibly signing him to replace Andreas Seidl in charge of Sauber.

An internal fight for power ripped through Red Bull earlier in the year when Christian Horner and Helmut Marko clashed. Now, Sauber appear to find themselves in a similar position with team boss Seidl plus Audi chief representative Oliver Hoffmann no longer seeing eye-to-eye.

Sauber coaxed Seidl out of McLaren in December 2022 to join as their chief executive officer after Frederic Vasseur went to Ferrari. He shares responsibility with Alessandro Alunni Bravi, who serves as their team representative. But Audi has since bought 100% control of Sauber.

Mike Krack is ‘surprised’ Audi wants him to replace Andreas Seidl at Sauber

Audi initially bought a minority stake in Sauber in January 2023 before increasing its share to 100% this March. Now, Auto Action reports that Seidl and Hoffmann are striving to get rid of the other. Audi, who will join F1 in 2026, lost faith in Seidl after he failed to sign Carlos Sainz.

Hoffmann would like to fire Seidl and take charge as Sauber’s CEO, while signing Mike Krack from Aston Martin to be Audi’s F1 team principal. But Krack has now voiced his commitment to the Silverstone squad, and puts the links with Audi to previously working for Sauber in F1.

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“I worked there for many, many years in Hinwil, so it probably comes from there,” Krack told RacingNews365. “Some people maybe remember my name but I was as surprised as you.”

Krack added: “Of course, I’m committed to this team. I’m very committed to this team. [How long] depends on what the near future means. The near future for me is the next 10 years.”

Mike Krack is under pressure to keep his job at Aston Martin

Krack spent eight years at Sauber from 2001 to 2009 and rose their ranks from starting as a data analysis engineer, race engineer and then chief engineer amid the Hinwil, Switzerland outfit’s time as BMW Sauber. But he is now happy at Aston Martin, if they want to keep him.

While Krack says he wants to remain in Silverstone, reports have suggested Aston Martin are interested in signing Mattia Binotto to be their team principal. Lawrence Stroll has held talks with the ex-Ferrari boss over a return to F1 as he is not happy with Aston Martin’s progress.

If Seidl now fails to sign a big name to partner Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber in 2025, Hoffmann may have enough to make a change and test Krack’s resolve about taking over Audi’s factory entry. And Stroll may not put up much of a fight if the Canadian feels a replacement is there.