The racing may be over for 2022, but Formula 1 had one last bit of excitement up its sleeve for this year.
A seemingly ordinary Tuesday in December turned into a major day of news. Within the space of less than 24 hours, four of the 10 teams on the grid had announced major team principal decisions.
It actually began on Monday night, with perhaps the biggest surprise of all. Jost Capito was hauled out of retirement to take the helm at Williams after the takeover of Dorilton Capital, but just two years later both he and technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison have now left.
And then all hell broke loose the following morning. News from Ferrari was no surprise – Fred Vasseur's appointment as the Italian marque's new team principal has been expected pretty much ever since Mattia Binotto's resignation after four years was made official.
What followed was more intriguing, as Andreas Seidl's departure from McLaren was confirmed. The Woking team has sourced his replacement from within, promoting executive racing director Andrea Stella to the role of team principal.
Seidl is off to Alfa Romeo, having informed McLaren chief executive Zak Brown that he was planning to quit at the end of his contract in 2025 anyway for when Sauber becomes the Audi works team. But the German is going to be Sauber's CEO, which means there is still a key piece of the puzzle which needs to be fit into place before the team principal merry-go-round grinds to a halt this winter.
After all those moves, Alfa Romeo is still without a team principal. Indeed, one of Seidl's first jobs when he starts his new role in January will be to recruit someone who will either be there for the long haul with Audi, or who will be content to be a short-term appointment until the German carmaker officially enters F1 in 2026.
Announcing the impending arrival of Seidl as CEO, Alfa Romeo owner Stellantis confirmed that the identity of their next team principal "will be communicated in due course". Sauber chairman Finn Rausing hailed the former McLaren man and said he has experience which is "second to none".
Seidl himself said: "This is a team with a rich history in Formula 1 and an organisation I know really well from my time working and living in Hinwil for four years. I can’t wait to join the team and work with all the colleagues at the Sauber Group on the ambitious goals we have set together."
