Former Renault team boss takes charge at Sauber

Vasseur replaces Kaltenborn, who made an abrupt exit in June

Swiss-owned Formula One outfit Sauber appointed Frenchman Frederic Vasseur to replace Monisha Kaltenborn as their new team principal yesterday.

Kaltenborn was the only female team principal in Formula One and left Sauber suddenly in June after differences of opinion with the new owners.

Vasseur himself left Renault under similar circumstances in the winter break and had been tipped to clinch the vacant Sauber post in recent weeks.

“Frediric Vasseur’s long and successful career in toplevel international motorsport speaks for itself, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Sauber,” said Pascal Picci, the chairman of the team that sits ninth in constructors standings with five points.

“Together we can reach ambitious targets,” said Vasseur, who has a reputation as a hard worker unafraid of getting his hands dirty after starting his career as an engineer and working his way up through the ranks.

Having cut his teeth in Formula 3, Vasseur spent 10 years working at ART GP with Nicolas Todt whose father is Jean Todt, head of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

The departure of the 46-year-old Indian-born Austrian Kaltenborn who had been the chief executive of the midgrid team since 2010, came as a shock to the sport when new owners Longbow Finance effectively sacked her on June 22.

Engine switch

The team are due to switch from Ferrari to Honda engines next year, and Honda are said to have been upset by the move.

Kaltenborn favoured the more effective of her drivers Pascal Wehrlein over Marcus Ericsson, who scord no points this season but is favoured by Longbow.

Vasseur was undaunted by any previous internal squabbles. “I cannot wait to start working with our drivers, engineers and all the staff. I look forward to contributing to the next important phase in the development of the team,” he insisted.