- Alessandro Alunni Bravi now effectively replaces Frederic Vasseur as the public figurehead of Alfa Romeo’s Formula 1 team.
- Alunni Bravi’s appointment in taking the de facto day-to-day team boss responsibilities at Grands Prix will permit CEO Andreas Seidl to focus on his wider responsibilities at Sauber Group.
- Alunni Bravi will be one of three new faces fronting Formula 1 teams in 2023.
The identities of the 10 figures fronting Formula 1 teams in 2023 are now in place after the Sauber-run Alfa Romeo squad promoted from within on Thursday.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi will take on the slightly clumsily-titled role of Team Representative for Alfa Romeo’s Formula 1 operations. In a statement Alfa Romeo outlined that he will be “representing the team in all official functions at race weekends and away from the track.”
The announcement comes after the departure of former CEO and team principal Frederic Vasseur to Ferrari in December.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi wants to take on the role of team representative for the Alfa Romeo F1 team.
Andreas Seidl left his position as McLaren team principal to join Sauber Group as its CEO, but opted to split the two roles—with one of his first tasks to hire a new team principal.
Alunni Bravi now effectively replaces Vasseur as the public figurehead of Alfa Romeo’s Formula 1 team and will work alongside veteran sporting director Beat Zehnder and technical director Jan Monchaux, beneath CEO Seidl.
It is the most senior and public role to date in F1 for Alunni Bravi, but he is no stranger to Alfa Romeo or the paddock. He has worked in rallying, junior motorsport and as a driver manager, was appointed as Sauber Group’s General Counsel and Board Member in 2017, following the team’s takeover by Finn Rausing.
Alunni Bravi was a key figure in Alfa Romeo re-establishing itself in Formula 1’s midfield, having finished sixth in last year’s Constructors’ Championship. It was the team’s best season finish in F1 since 2013.
Alunni Bravi will dovetail his team representative role with his existing position of Sauber Group’s managing director, to which he was appointed in March 2022.
“It is a huge privilege to keep working with a group of incredible people who, over many years, have helped me integrate within the Sauber Group,” said Alunni Bravi. “What they gave me in this time will enable me to fulfill this task and represent the team according to our shared vision and our objectives. I am fully conscious of the work we have ahead of us and of the challenges that face us.”
Andreas Seidl moves to Alfa Romeo from McLaren in 2023.
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Alunni Bravi’s appointment in taking the de facto day-to-day team boss responsibilities at Grands Prix will permit CEO Seidl to focus on his wider responsibilities at Sauber Group.
Sauber’s Formula 1 team, which will retain the cosmetic Alfa Romeo branding for only 2023 before the Italian marque leaves the sport, is now effectively in a multi-year transitionary period until the arrival of Audi as its strategic partner in 2026.
Audi will manufacturer power units—with the project already underground in Germany—while Sauber Group will construct the team’s chassis in Switzerland.
It means Seidl’s current goal is to focus on evolving the team from a midfield operation to one that must be ready for being the works squad of a major manufacturer and the loftier expectations that will entail.
“Alessandro representing the team during the Formula 1 championship will allow me to focus on growing the Group and preparing for the challenges and opportunities that await us,” said Seidl.
Alunni Bravi will be one of three new faces fronting Formula 1 teams in 2023, with Andrea Stella promoted to take Seidl’s vacated team principal role at McLaren, while long-time Mercedes strategy king James Vowles is to join Williams as his new team principal from February
