Audi are yet to arrive on the Formula 1 grid yet and there has already been a lot of uncertainty and doubt surrounding their project.
Originally, the team only purchased a 75% stake in the Sauber team back in January 2023 before making it 100% in March this year.
Then came the announcement that there would be an Audi takeover at the Qatar Grand Prix and that they had decided to sell some of the team again just a few weeks ago.
Both new drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto have long-term contracts, so it cannot be nice for them to hear about the fuss on the outside of the Audi project.
The team itself finished plum last in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship with just one finish in the points, marking a dire season for them.
Now Audi are being urged not to repeat Toyota’s mistake by blaming the drivers for any shortfalls they may face in the future.
Porsche spread ‘rumours’ that Audi F1 project was going ‘haywire’
The German manufacturer is still one year away from entering the grid officially and already they have endured more chaos than they would have liked.
Earlier this year they hired former Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto to replace Andreas Seidl with the project headed in a new direction.
With the backing of a Qatari state fund, they might end up being in a stronger position financially, enabling them to compete better.
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Michael Schmidt told ams.f1 that rival manufacturer Porsche spread rumours about the state of affairs behind the scenes.
“For example, many of these rumours were spread by Porsche people that things were going haywire internally and that they don’t actually want to be in Formula 1 and that the whole project will fail,” he said.
“[Audi] have announced that they will take over 100%, now they have given some of these shares back to the Qatari state fund. In the end, the project is now standing, they will do it even if it is perhaps not going so well in normal life. Factories are being closed and people are being laid off.”
Have Audi realised how difficult it will be to compete in Formula 1?
Modern Formula 1 is incredibly difficult to compete in and requires every team to maximise the budget cap to compete at the top.
Perhaps Audi realised the cost of investing in the infrastructure and staff and decided to take a step back. They did acquire one of the smallest teams on the grid who need some of the biggest investments to reach the top.
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It’s not to say that it can’t be done, but reports have surfaced that their engine project was struggling and is getting behind as they seek staff with the relevant expertise.
It places additional pressure on their 2026 aspirations, but it can only be a good thing that they are bringing a new engine to the sport.
What they will want to avoid most, is a repeat of the Honda fiasco nearly 10 years ago now, when they were embarrassed after arriving unprepared for a partnership with McLaren.
