This week's departure of team principal Monisha Kaltenborn came amid claims that one of the reasons for the split was about how it handled its drivers.

Unidentified sources had been reported as suggesting that Swedish backers wanted to throw all the team's weight behind Ericsson, something that was strongly denied in a statement issued by the team earlier this week.

But Picci, who is the CEO of the Longbow Finance company that bought into Sauber last year, remains furious about the idea it was plotting to hand an advantage to one of its drivers.

"I must once again deny the story that there was a difference of opinion about the management of the drivers after someone said that we would like to favour Ericsson," Picci said in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com's Swiss edition.

"This is a low blow – like a punch under the belt – that has made us look bad. It's a negative action – orchestrated around Marcus and the team in order to demolish us.

"If the Swede got stronger or gets ahead of Pascal in the standings, then many will think and certainly say that this has only happened because he has a better or more competitive car.

"It's an attitude that I find disgusting – and fuelled by the rumours that someone has been circulating."

Vasseur talks

Picci said that the team was working hard on finding a replacement for Kaltenborn, and he confirmed talks were ongoing with former Renault F1 team principal Fred Vasseur.

"There are many candidates of course, because we need to have someone with us as soon as possible," he explained.

"Our idea is not to have a management or technical team with more people at the top – but to have someone in command, a proper boss. We are talking about someone capable of motivating a team – not a totalitarian commander but a forward-looking leader.

"There is someone who is favourite, and I do not hide the fact that Fred Vasseur recently met me at Hinwil. For the rest, it's still too early to say."

Bright future

While Kaltenborn's departure has come as a shock, Picci has said he sees only a bright future for the outfit.

"Hinwil has tremendous potential, and our primary target is to maximise that – we want to promote the great technology that is still in the factory.

"Many have forgotten about it, but it was BMW who brought both financial investment and cutting-edge technical equipment to Hinwil.

"It is natural and desirable for us to reactivate everything. Sauber will become a rare pearl in the field of automotive technology in Switzerland and internationally."

He added: "At the moment we are not considering expanding into other categories, because we will focus on Formula 1 and the development of the infrastructure – with the wind tunnel, aerodynamics and new engineering. We are only at the dawn of the rebirth and Sauber is very close to our heart. "

Interview by Gabriele Testi