Audi’s Formula 1 entry is less than one year away and team boss Mattia Binotto has been hard at work preparing them for a new dawn.
The 2026 F1 regulations signal a massive change in the direction of the sport. Smaller, lighter cars and two ‘new’ teams in Cadillac and the rebadged Audi (formerly Sauber).
After a technical reshuffle, Binotto is now the leader of the German project after replacing Andreas Seidl last year.
Their drivers will be Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, who are both new to the team for 2025 and are expected to endure a tough season with a poor car.
Porsche spread rumours that Audi was going ‘haywire’ ahead of their Formula 1 entry, but nothing official has been revealed.
Lucas di Grassi says Bortoleto should escape Audi as soon as he can and doesn’t believe that the brand can fire him to success.
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Mattia Binotto admits Ferrari have an ‘advantage’ Audi will never have in F1
By taking over the Hinwil-based Sauber team, there is a big distance between their base of operations in Switzerland and where their engine is being made in Neuberg.
Having everything under one roof would no doubt help them, but it didn’t stop McLaren from winning the constructors’ championship in 2024.
Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, Binotto admitted that having all operations under one roof is an advantage, but one they are not doomed by.
“That makes a difference. It can be an advantage to have everything under one roof. At Audi we have two different companies that have to grow together into one team. That’s a different situation.
“But history has shown that you can win titles even if the car and engine are not built at the same location. It’s up to us to show that.”
READ MORE: Valtteri Bottas outlines what Sauber doesn’t have that Audi need to focus on in 2026 after F1 exit
How many years will it take for Audi to compete for wins in F1?
It’s an almost impossible task to join Formula 1 and compete for anything more than points from day one.
Just look at Haas. They’re still yet to secure their first podium in the sport 10 years after they joined, despite a technical partnership with Ferrari.
It’s going to take good leadership and investment to be able to compete. It also took McLaren a while to turn their operation around after a few tough years.
They do at least have a young and upcoming driver, as well as an experienced and calm head to lead their charge. Points shouldn’t be out of the question in 2026, but podiums may be a stretch too far.
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