Audi and Cadillac should avoid Toyota's approach to Formula 1

While Audi have taken over Sauber, an established F1 operation, albeit uncompetitive, they have the challenge of building their own power unit.

Cadillac, on the other hand, are starting from scratch building their F1 team, but have a breather on the power unit side, as they will enjoy Ferrari power in 2026 as they develop their own powertrain, which will debut in the 2029 season.

Despite the differences in their situations, both Audi and Cadillac face a major challenge to be competitive, especially since they can't afford to flop given their huge statuses in the automotive industry.

That means spending big will not be enough if it is not smart, a point former Ferrari driver academy boss Jock Clear made sure to point out.

"I think it's very important to get new blood into the sport," Clear said. "I think it's very enlightening to see how that pans out.

"We saw it with Toyota; that was the best example in the last 20 years that you can't just come in and throw money at it and win. And actually, there aren't many sports in the world where you can't do that.

"It's a very humbling exercise for some of the very big companies," he claimed. "I think someone like Audi absolutely doesn't underestimate the challenge, and similarly with Cadillac, they certainly have not underestimated the challenge.

"They know that to come in and compete is going to be very, very difficult, however big a company you are, however strong your engineering base is. But they're still willing to do it, which means that, you know, they are up for the challenge."

As a reminder, Toyota, who seem to be closing in on a return to F1 with their Haas deal, spent eight seasons in the top flight, spending huge amounts but failing to win even one race. Their best result in the Constructors' Championships was fourth in 2005. The highlights were three pole positions and 13 podiums.

As we edge towards the start of the 2026 F1 season, which will feature sweeping new regulations, the spotlight will be on Audi and Cadillac to see how they fare; that is in addition to the new pecking order that will emerge and how the new rules materialize.

Clear commented: "I think over the next 2 or 3 years, we'll see quite quickly how well prepared they both those new teams have been. But it could also be another reminder of how difficult F1 is.

"We know how dedicated to success pretty much everybody in that pit lane is. You have the luxury of finding and having access to some of the cleverest, most motivated, brilliant minds.

"There's thousands of people out there doing different things, like going to Mars, and certainly in the medical field. But we, similarly in F1, attract some very clever people who just want to develop new technology.

"They arrive and find the challenge quite tough, and they're not arriving and beating everybody straight away. And that's what I'm looking forward to is, being reminded of how tough an environment F1 is to compete at the highest level," Clear explained.

He went on: "And there will be some really clever and innovative technologies and developments brought to the sport by Cadillac and by Audi that wouldn't have been there otherwise had we not expanded.

"F1 is expanding the knowledge base and raising the bar yet again, which is what the sport needs to do. Inviting the best people to come and have a go is the best way of doing that.

"If the sport kept itself as a closed club, it could get a bit complacent and know what you're up against; you'd lose good people over time. F1 needs to keep the newness aspect to various sides of the sport, a new team coming in with new regulations and new people arriving.

"Also, America are now involved; that's really exciting for all of us. To see Cadillac come in from the US is going to be really good, and we'll enjoy a different culture arriving.

"That all keeps the sport very bright," Clear concluded. (Source CasinoHawks)