Alfa Romeo have announced that Team Principal and CEO, Frederic Vasseur will leave their Formula One team in January 2023 to join Scuderia Ferrari.
The Frenchman joined the team that was previously known as Sauber in 2017 and later rebranded as Alfa Romeo in 2019, forming closer ties with Ferrari in the process.
Under Vasseur’s leadership, Alfa Romeo finished eighth in Constructor’s Championship three times in a row (2018-2020) before achieving a sixth place finish in 2022, matching their best finish in a decade.
“Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN Team Principal and Sauber Motorsport CEO, Frederic Vasseur, will leave the company in January 2023, following six successful seasons at the helm of the team,” the team said in a statement.
“The announcement marks the final chapter of a personal and professional path of growth for both the team and the man, a journey that culminated in Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN clinching its best result in the Formula One constructors’ standings in a decade with sixth place in the 2022 season.”
Ferrari have announced Vasseur’s switch, with his role set to take off officially on January 9, 2023.
He replaces Mattia Binotto who leaves Maranello on December 31, 2022.
Vasseur in own address said: “I am truly delighted and honoured to take over the leadership of Scuderia Ferrari as Team Principal.
“As someone who has always held a lifelong passion for motorsport, Ferrari has always represented the very pinnacle of the racing world to me.
“I look forward to working with the talented and truly passionate team in Maranello to honour the history and heritage of the Scuderia and deliver for our Tifosi around the world.”
Ferrari finished second in the 2022 Constructor’s Championship.
The Scuderia led the standing at the start of the season with two wins in the first three races courtesy of Charles Leclerc.
Wrong strategy, reliability and driver errors, however, saw the Italian team capitulate and end the season 205 points behind Red Bull Racing.
