Manchester United continues to invest in its future—but this time, the addition won’t be wearing cleats. Michael Sansoni, a British engineer with over a decade of experience at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team and a key figure alongside Lewis Hamilton, is close to trading the racetrack for Old Trafford.
The move is being spearheaded by Jim Ratcliffe, United’s co-owner and also a shareholder at Mercedes. It’s part of his long-term strategy to revolutionize the club’s decision-making process by implementing the cutting-edge data systems used in Formula 1.
Ratcliffe has openly criticized United’s current analytics setup as “something from the last century,” and aims to introduce high-precision, predictive methodologies to improve scouting, planning, and overall performance analysis.
From the track to the pitch
Sansoni holds a degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the University of Southampton. He joined Mercedes as an intern and rose through the ranks, becoming a crucial part of their performance simulation team. By 2023, he had been promoted to Performance Engineer for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, further cementing his status as a leader in technical innovation.
A strategic shift powered by INEOS
This crossover between motorsport and soccer is made possible by the shared connection to INEOS, the multinational corporation that holds stakes in both Mercedes and Manchester United. If finalized, Sansoni would be tasked with building a tech-driven infrastructure at United—one that reduces reliance on “gut feeling” and embraces advanced metrics. The goal is to turn around a club that has spent over €1.3 billion on transfers with minimal on-field success.
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