Stefan, Testing Coordinator for ERS Development at the Audi Formula 1 Team, oversees the full scope of the car’s energy recovery system — from the motor generator unit and battery to electronics and software — as the team builds toward its 2026 grid debut.
Featured in the team’s ongoing “All for One” editorial series, Stefan outlined the breadth of his role and the scale of ERS contribution to overall car performance. “Around half of the system’s performance comes from the ERS,” he said. “The radio, the cameras, the pumps — everything requires electrical energy, and that’s what we deliver.”
Stefan began his motorsport career in 2011 as an intern at Audi Sport, working as a vehicle technician before spending a decade as an engine engineer across the DTM, WEC, and Dakar Rally programs. That experience with electric drivetrains formed the foundation for his transition into Formula 1, where he shifted focus from the internal combustion engine to the electric motor.
“Today, I coordinate a very broad test field covering the MGU, battery, electronics, and software — everything related to the energy recovery system,” Stefan said. His day-to-day work centers on bridging development, workshop, and test bench disciplines, translating engineering concepts into physical hardware and refining them through continuous testing.
The role, while removed from trackside operations, carries significant technical weight. Stefan noted that the MGU is responsible for starting the internal combustion engine itself, underscoring how deeply integrated the ERS is within the broader power unit architecture. “It’s the interaction that has to work: All for One,” he said.
The “All for One” series is a recurring feature from the Audi F1 Team designed to highlight the specialists working across the organization. “Success in Formula 1 is never the work of a few,” the team stated in the release accompanying Stefan’s profile.