Sauber owners have strongly refuted reports of favouritism towards Marcus Ericsson as the Swiss team battles with disagreements at senior levels.
On Wednesday, it was revealed Monisha Kaltenborn has departed from her role as team principal after five years and a long association with a team before that.
A statement from chairman Pascal Picci, who joined following the takeover over the Hinwil-based outfit last summer, would confirm Kaltenborn’s exit, claiming: “Longbow Finance SA regrets to announce that, by mutual consent and due to diverging views on the future of the company, Monisha Kaltenborn will leave her positions with the Sauber Group effective immediately.
“We thank her for many years of strong leadership, great passion for the Sauber F1 Team and wish her the very best for the future.
“Her successor will be announced shortly. In the meantime, we wish the team the best of luck in Azerbaijan.”
“This is not only patently untrue, it would be contrary to the team’s absolute and longstanding commitment to fair competition.
“These reports, attributed to anonymous ‘sources’, are highly detrimental to both Marcus Ericsson and Pascal Wehrlein as well as to the management and all staff of the Sauber F1 Team.”