Eric Gandelin is a French Formula 1 engineer and the Chief Designer (Chassis) of the Audi Revolut F1 Team, part of the technical group designing the works manufacturer's 2026 car. ¹²

He was born on 12 March 1977 in Bourg-la-Reine, near Paris, France. ¹

Career at Sauber

Gandelin entered Formula 1 through composite design at Prost Grand Prix, then joined the Hinwil-based Sauber team in 2002. He spent around five years as a composite design engineer before being promoted to Head of Concept Design (2008–2013) and then Chief Designer from July 2013. In that role he spoke publicly about the design of cars such as the Sauber C33 of 2014, discussing the team's packaging and aerodynamic choices in technical interviews. He held senior design positions through the team's BMW Sauber and Alfa Romeo eras — a tenure spent almost entirely with the same Swiss organisation, making him one of its longest-serving design figures. ¹²³

Fig. 03 — from the shoot

ERIC GANDELIN · 5 FRAMESCHIEF

“Gandelin entered Formula 1 through composite design at Prost Grand Prix, then joined the Hinwil-based Sauber team in 2002.”

Role at Audi

As the Hinwil squad transforms into the works Audi team for 2026, Gandelin continues as Chief Designer for the chassis, drawing on more than two decades of institutional knowledge of the team's design office as it scales up to manufacturer level. Why it matters: as Audi expands its facilities and headcount around the new regulations, long-tenured engineers like Gandelin provide the design-office continuity that turns extra resource into a coherent car. Detailed public information about his career beyond these roles is limited, as is common for senior F1 engineering staff who keep a low profile. ¹²

Bottom line

A long-serving Sauber design engineer who climbed from composites to Chief Designer, Gandelin brings deep continuity to Audi's chassis design as the manufacturer launches its works F1 project. ¹²