Mattia Binotto says Audi must clean up execution and reliability at Suzuka

The team arrives at Suzuka for round 3 of the 2026 Formula 1 season with Binotto taking over the Team Principal role following the shock departure of Jonathan Wheatley.

The German outfit is looking to build on the pace shown in Australia and China, but the message from the top is clear. In a midfield fight where margins are tight and the new generation of F1 cars is still being understood, Audi cannot afford missed opportunities or another disrupted race.

Binotto made clear that progress alone will not be enough if the team continues to leave results on the table; he said: “As we head into the 3rd round of the season in Suzuka, the focus is increasingly on clean execution. Everyone, us as well as our rivals, is getting on top of the new cars so the margins for error become slimmer.

“We’ve seen encouraging signs in terms of pace over the first 2 races," he added. "But we understand there are areas where we can still improve, both in performance and execution.

"We’ve taken time to address the reliability issues we faced previously, looking to ensure they won’t happen again and that both cars will be able to run their full races without disruption.”

That leaves Suzuka as another important reference point for the Audi project. The circuit is one of the most demanding on the calendar, and with little room for error, any weakness in execution is usually exposed quickly.

Nico Hulkenberg arrives in Japan encouraged by parts of Audi’s opening 2 weekends, but aware that the bigger picture remains unfinished.

The German sees Suzuka as a track that demands commitment and precision, a place where the team’s current level should become clearer if it can finally deliver a complete weekend.

He said: “Suzuka is always a special challenge: as a track, it can be really demanding, but also very satisfying when you get it right.”

Hulkenberg also pointed to the inconsistency of the opening rounds, adding: “The first 2 races have been a mixed bag, definitely some encouraging signs but also missed opportunities where we need to do better.

"The aim now is to put everything together and have a clean weekend and really get the most of what we can achieve.”

That is the key line for Audi going into Japan. Pace has not looked disastrous, but in a tightly packed midfield, clean operation often decides whether a team comes away with points or regret. Suzuka is unlikely to forgive mistakes in strategy, setup, reliability or driver execution.

Hulkenberg also underlined one of the constants of the Japanese weekend, saying: “One of the highlights of the weekend will also be the fans: we always get an incredible welcome when we travel to Japan, it’s one of the things that makes this race unique.”

For Gabriel Bortoleto, Suzuka also offers a chance to reset after a frustrating weekend in China where he failed to take part in the race due a car issue.

The Brazilian admitted missing out in Shanghai was a major disappointment, but he also stressed that the team has spent the gap between races trying to make sure the same issue does not return.

Bortoleto said: “I am really looking forward to being back in Suzuka: it’s one of my all time favourite circuits, and I really enjoyed driving here for the first time last year.”

He then turned to the problem that interrupted his momentum: “Missing out on Shanghai last time out was obviously disappointing, but I know the team has worked hard to avoid a repeat of this issue.

"We’ve used the time back at the factory to keep working and try to extract a bit more from the car ahead of this weekend.”

Bortoleto believes the underlying platform is there to be used if Audi can put the pieces together, saying: “The races in Australia and China showed we have a good base, and now it’s about building on that and making the most of the opportunities across the weekend.”

That sums up Audi’s position heading into Suzuka. The speed has shown up in flashes. The execution has not always followed. On one of the hardest circuits of the year, Binotto’s team now needs a clean, reliable and disciplined weekend to turn encouragement into points.