In Imola, Sauber celebrated its 600th grand prix, from its humble Formula 1 beginnings in 1993 through a rollercoaster of manufacturer and independent stints before morphing into the Audi works team next year. One man was there for every single race, and as Sauber celebrated its anniversary, so did long-time sporting manager Beat Zehnder.
Zehnder has seen it all: Mercedes, BMW and Red Bull all coming and going, surprise podiums and that magical 2008 Canadian Grand Prix win with Robert Kubica – but also hard times as the team nearly went bankrupt on several occasions. All good things must come to an end, and Zehnder's streak of 601 consecutive races ends after Monaco as the Swiss veteran shifts to a factory-based role as Director of Signature Programs and Operations, helping to expand the team's facilities and building up a test squad.
