Until the arrival of Mattia Binotto last summer as the new team boss, Alessandro Alunni Bravi was the on-track leader of Stake F1 Sauber. As an ‘interim’ leader, he contributed to the transition to Audi. This week it was announced that his role has come to an end. But there is no bitterness. “Going to the supermarket with my wife, wonderful.”
Rewind to earlier this season, somewhere during a Grand Prix. While Flavio Briatore, who has since returned to Formula 1 with Alpine, is making exaggerated gestures through the paddock, a relaxed Alessandro Alunni Bravi is calmly telling his story inside one of the hospitality rooms of the slowest team on the grid. Two Italians, but the contrast couldn’t be greater: one flamboyant, the other calm and relaxed.
This calmness is also evident when Alunni Bravi talks about the person behind the Formula 1 team boss. Or in this case: team representative (more on that later). “People might imagine that as a team leader in Formula 1, you also go from private jet to private jet. But that’s not the case.”
He continues: “I have, what I call, a normal life: I live in Switzerland, not in some huge house, but in a normal apartment somewhere in Lugano. And I always enjoy going to the local supermarket with my wife. I’ve known her since 1992, from school. Normal guy, normal life.”
In this way, he immediately sheds light on his own background, in a tone that is as friendly as it is calm. As he always does in Formula 1, despite the fact that his team’s results give every reason for stress, despair, and grumpiness. Or even a combination of all the above.
Manager
As Alunni Bravi speaks, thoughts go back to over a year and a half ago. The then 48-year-old Italian, known among other things as a lawyer, former F2 team boss, and former manager of drivers such as Stoffel Vandoorne and Robert Kubica, holds a management position at Sauber. Then, in January 2023, comes the announcement that he will be the new team boss.
Although, team boss? Team representative.
And yes: that sounds vague, and it is vague.
Call it a representative, call it a delegate; these are certainly not descriptions that fit someone who from that moment on is in charge of a Formula 1 team every race weekend. The real boss behind the scenes initially is Andreas Seidl, the man who decided to swap his role as McLaren team boss for a position as CEO of Audi’s Formula 1 project. After his dismissal last summer, Mattia Binotto is the new person in charge. The former Ferrari team boss has, more than Seidl, physically taken control of the team during race weekends.
Was Alunni Bravi acting more as a team representative than a butcher without a knife? A soldier with a cap gun? A knight without a sword? It’s not quite that extreme. But an interim, yes, that’s accurate. He joined the table without any resentment. He knew and understands his role and is genuinely involved in the welfare of Sauber and the successful transition to Audi. Whether that’s with Seidl as CEO or Binotto.
Unavoidably, the conversation quickly turns to the disappointingly poor sporting season. A challenging year, right? This elicits a mild smile and a nod from Alunni Bravi, followed by an honest answer. “Your description of our season sounds quite kind, thank you. It was and is more than challenging.”
The Italian continues: “It’s not what we hoped for and not what we expected, that’s clear. It’s a shame, we work hard. Look at the performance and the result. At the beginning of the season, for about five, six races, the former was there. But unfortunately, the latter was not. And since the spring, around the time of the Grand Prix of Japan, it became clear that our competitors were ahead of us. They pulled ahead with upgrades. That’s the reality. But we never lost courage, always searching for upgrades and better results.”
Unfortunately for Alunni Bravi, the rest of the team, and the new Audi bosses, it became apparent in 2024 that the sleek and fast-looking green car was nothing more than a proverbial toothless tiger. However, in that metaphor, it’s a tiger with an impressive list of names. Or a confusing list, if you prefer. Is it Stake F1? Stake F1 Sauber? Kick Sauber? Or Sauber-Audi?
Farewell
He grins; the jumble of team names is also a contentious point within the team itself. Depending on gambling regulations in certain countries, the name varies quite a bit from weekend to weekend. In this case, we’ll stick with Sauber-Audi. Especially since 2026 is approaching, and with it the definitive entry of Audi into Formula 1. And, just as importantly, the inevitable departure of Sauber that comes with it.
“Sauber is and always will be a great name in Formula 1, a team full of history and special stories. I feel honored to be a part of it,” says Alunni Bravi, as involved as he is. Although he may be calm in demeanor, the typical Italian passion for motorsport also burns brightly within him.
Formula 1 is a passion. “Disconnecting from the sport, from the team, is never an option for me. You’re always ‘on’, especially when there are multiple races in a row.” He shrugs. “It’s a level of involvement, that’s just how it is. It also helps us improve together.”
And relaxation, La dolce vita? Loosely translated: ‘the good life’. No Italian needs to be told the importance of that. Enjoyment, that’s important. Alunni Bravi also enjoys this, with his wife and son, in his homeland of Italy and the mountains of Switzerland. But there’s a time and place for everything, it seems.
“Relaxation? There will be plenty of time for that after the season. Not now.” He means to say that hard work comes first, then enjoyment. For instance, he enjoys spending time with his family or playing tennis passionately. Or – as the saying goes, blood is thicker than water – by racing. You can always wake him up for historical rallies.
Classic Cars
For example, two years ago, Alunni Bravi participated in the Mille Miglia, a race for classic cars from Brescia to Rome and back. The event is a modern version of a rally that took place about 24 times between 1927 and 1957, excluding the war years.
More than just a car enthusiast or motorsport fanatic, he is primarily a connoisseur of the ins and outs. Alunni Bravi has long made his mark in Formula 1 with Sauber, he is much more than just a caretaker without resentment. “I joined the team in July 2017, initially as an advisor. I came in at the same time as Fred Vasseur.” A few years later, he became the head of finance, IT, marketing, communication, and HR in a management role at the Swiss racing stable. So, he is versatile and highly developed. “Development is good. That’s why you need to take steps. Otherwise, you’re literally and figurally standing still.”
Guiding drivers like Lando Norris and Vandoorne, collaborating in management with ART (with Nicolas Todt and also with Fred Vasseur), leading a Formula 3000 team (Coloni); there are plenty of examples of varied tasks over the years. Just like being the team boss of a GP2/Formula 2 team (Trident) and a role within the organization of the WRC rally in Sardinia; his love for four wheels is evident.
Again, there’s that grin from the man who is also a graduated lawyer. “Well, I just enjoy many things. And I have many fond memories of all those branches of motorsport.”
Picking out one specific memory, he says, is difficult. “However, it remains special how Fred Vasseur and I managed to secure Alfa Romeo as a title sponsor shortly after our arrival, as a high-quality partner. That was a very nice collaboration, just like the transition to Audi is going to be a success.”
