Former Ferrari employee Mattia Binotto revealed stunning details regarding the Audi project when he first joined the organisation. The German racer will join the sport in 2026 as a full participant. As part of the strategy, the company bought Sauber and plans to rebrand it. Audi announced in 2022 that they would enter the grid in 2026, coinciding with the introduction of new regulations.
The Germans conducted a systematic buyout of Sauber, gradually taking control of portions of the team. Following the announcement, Sauber had a period of stagnation. The team’s performance declined, making it difficult for the drivers to compete with their opponents. After the Alfa Romeo connection ended last season, the team partnered with streaming and betting company Stake, surprising many in the paddock given Audi’s already expanding prominence within the team.
Andreas Seidl, former CEO of Sauber, stepped down due to stagnation and political infighting. Mattia Binotto took his position. Speaking to Autosport, the former Ferrari employee said that the team was in a somewhat frozen state, with the full focus on 2026 and little attention made to the current situation. Mattia Binotto, on the other hand, saw a silver lining in all of this.
Audi’s F1 Dream in Shambles
Believing that the late-season surge will enable the team to enter the winter with a fresh attitude. In 2024, it appeared that the soon-to-be Audi squad would finish the season with no points. Audi will make its F1 debut in 2026, but the team’s current performance needs significant improvement to achieve respectability.
Binotto said, “When I came in there were not only zero points, but even no plans nor developments. And that’s what concerned me the most. Everything was only focused on ’26, but that was for me somehow a problem because I think that a team needs always to fight on track. It’s only by fighting, competing on track, that you can understand how good you’re doing and if whatever you’re doing is going the right direction.”
