© Lotus

Keith Saunt has an enviable career in the top flight of motor racing and his move to the new Lotus Racing squad as chief operations officer in 2009 saw his Formula 1 career come full circle. Born and bred in Norwich, UK, Saunt started his racing profession at Team Lotus International where he worked with Clive Chapman in the purchasing and logistics department. Saunt then moved to the Benetton F1 team, initially heading up the buying department. He quickly assumed responsibility for all internal manufacturing as well as all purchasing and logistics. He was latterly to become special projects manager at the team, leading a number of engineering and operational projects throughout the business.

In 1999, he took a short break away from Formula 1 but soon returned to the sport with the Renault team as head of manufacturing. In this key role, Saunt was responsible for all project management, manufacturing, purchasing, production and management reporting.

In 2006, Saunt was offered the chief operating officer role at Red Bull Racing, managing the team’s Formula 1 facility in Milton Keynes. Shortly after assuming this post, he was asked by Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz to become director of Red Bull Technology charged with delivering a brand new manufacturing centre which enhanced the overall capability of the Red Bull Racing team.

Saunt left Red Bull in 2008 and in 2009 joined Lotus Racing as COO, reporting directly to chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne, to help establish the team’s racing operations at its UK facility in Hingham. As COO of Caterham F1 Team he has played an integral role in the establishment of the team as a serious force in F1 for the long-term, a fitting accolade for someone with Saunt's experience.