Binotto rubbishes VW rumours as he talks up Audi F1 challenge
F1 NewsTuesday, 15 October 2024 at 05:58
The 2024 Formula 1 season has already witnessed a number of interesting storylines, among them Audi's ongoing work ahead of their entry to the sport in 2026; we have had Lewis Hamilton's switch from Mercedes to Ferrari; the regular number of spats between race teams; and the occasional barb or two thrown at the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
On the Audi front chief operating officer and chief technical officer, Mattia Binotto, has recently given an update on their progress, and in many ways, he has again played down the expectations of race fans, restating that this is a long-term project for them.
For those who like a flutter, online sports betting would reflect the long-term nature and the challenge in the odds that will be offered in the future.
With everyone knowing Audi will officially enter in 2026, earlier this year they took control of Swiss-based Sauber, and 54-year-old Binotto took on his dual role back in August, and as you listen to him speak, he is quite clear about how 'enormous' a task that turning them into Formula 1 winners will actually be.
Having spent a number of years with Ferrari (1995 to 2022), he knows he will have to use every ounce of experience and knowledge that he has built up in his career so far to make it happen.
Describing the job as not just trying to climb a mountain; it is like trying to climb Everest itself, he explains that their internal plan and objective are to try and build a team capable of fighting for the championship by the end of the current decade.
Sauber F1 Team is morphing into Audi for the 2026 F1 season
Taking over backmarkers Sauber F1 Team means for the new boys on the block, their entry point will be both an advantage and disadvantage. Whilst they are playing catch up on the knowledge that others have already built up, they are not wedded to previous decisions and that kind of investment.
So they can better look at things with a fresh slate. But obviously, holding the aim of truly challenging for the top honours that F1 can provide will be a monumental undertaking, and it will not just rely on the engineering; it will also come down to the qualities of the race team.
Putting that challenge into further perspective is the fact that in the constructors this year, Sauber are dead last having failed to pick up a single point, and there are only six games left in the calendar, and with Audi taking 100% ownership next year, that is something they will be hoping to quickly improve, albeit however marginal that improvement may be.
Whilst fans will appreciate his comment that his Ferrari experience shows the differences between a "top team" and a "small team" he also categorically stated that problems in the VW Group would not lead to the cancellation of the F1 project as some outlets had speculated. He said those claims were simply 'not true'.
With that question answered, we shall see who Binotto, on behalf of Audi eventually appoints as Nico Hulkenberg's teammate for next season with an eye very much on 2026.
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