Audi in F1?

While I understand your point, I don't believe that the budget cap is actually working as efficient as the inventors want it to be: A big company like Ferrari (or Mercedes for that matter) can hide resources in other parts of the organization.

 

It does sound like Binotto had alot of influence in gaining Wheatley to the Audi effort..................

“I am extremely proud to have been a part of the Red Bull Racing journey over the last 18 years and will leave with many fond memories,” Wheatley is quoted as saying..

“However, the opportunity to play an active part in Audi’s entry into F1 as head of a factory team is a uniquely exciting prospect, and I am looking forward to the challenge.

“Also I am glad to be working together with Mattia, whom I have known for many years and who is the right person to collaborate with in this exciting project.”

Binotto himself made it clear that he held Wheatley in equally high regard and was looking forward to getting to work with at Audi.

“I have known Jonathan for many years and rate him highly as an experienced and committed motorsport expert,” Binotto said.

“2026 is not a long time away now, and I’m looking forward to setting up the new racing team for Audi, along with Jonathan, and leading it to success.”

 

Adidas and Puma reportedly battling for Audi F1 sponsorship

 

Audi can't put a foot wrong.

 

You really stepped in it this time...

 

Two rival footwear companies, created by 2 brothers each at his end of town !

 

I'm sure there are many more puns in this theme. I'm just not that creative.

<insert foot in mouth>

 

It's the silly season alright:

Now rumors have risen that Vettel might do a comeback with Audi.

 

Yes, there was an article about it in GPToday this morning.

 

Interesting assessment of Audi F1 status now: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/cze5xzpn931o

1 September 2024
Audi says it has set a "more realistic" target for its Formula 1 project after analysing preparations for its debut in 2026.

The German car company initially set an ambition of winning races within three years of entry, but chief executive officer Gernot Dollner says Audi has "recalibrated our time path".

Dollner said: "We are aware it will be a several-year programme. We started the discussion of how ambitious we can be but haven't finished that discussion."

He added that Audi had "re-evaluated" its F1 programme last year but that the company had never considered abandoning the idea of competing in F1.

"It definitely is the right time," Dollner said. "The decision was well-prepared two and a half years ago. We re-evaluated it last year and we believe that F1 and Audi is a perfect fit - and it fits to our strategy and we are happy to have this project, knowing that it is ambitious and takes time.

"It was never questioned that F1 is a great motorsport platform, the pinnacle of motorsports. We just re-evaluated if our set-up was the right one.

"And then we came over to take complete responsibilities for Sauber earlier than expected, and the second step is a future-oriented management strategy."

Audi is to take over complete ownership and control of the Sauber team by the end of the first quarter of next year, and in the meantime has undertaken a major restructure of the F1 programme's management.

Last month, the previous management team of Oliver Hoffmann and former McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl were sacked.

In their place, Audi have recruited former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto as chief operating officer and chief technical officer, and Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley joins as team principal - at an undefined point before July next year.

Sauber board chairman Dollner, who will oversee them both, said what he described as a "dual leadership" was "the perfect solution for our project".

Dollner said: "It is a clear structure with clear responsibilities, and we believe Mattia and Jonathan will be the perfect team to share the responsibilities - and if a last decision will be needed I will take it, but I don’t see the need to do so.

"Of course, we discuss important things such as drivers together and come to a shared conclusion."

Sauber position 'very painful'
Binotto will be running operations at the chassis base in Hinwil in Switzerland and the engine factory at Neuberg in Germany, while Wheatley takes charge of operations at the races.

Dollner was speaking at a media briefing at the Italian Grand Prix alongside Binotto, who said no decision had been taken on a second driver for 2025 to partner Nico Hulkenberg.

Binotto said Audi "cannot accept" Sauber’s current competitiveness - the team are last in the World Championship this year - and that it could not continue into next season.

"We cannot afford [two seasons at the back]," Binotto said. "This is the team and we need to progress. The position is not a comfortable one. It is very painful. We need to do continuous progress day by day."

Dollner said Audi was determined to allow the F1 team to have the nimbleness to act outside of corporate structures.

"We are absolutely independent in handling this project," Dollner said. "With the new set-up we also improved, to make the F1 project as fast and independent from any corporate process.

"Only when it comes to marketing and some design aspects - and of course sponsorship - we need the link, but otherwise the decisions have to be taken in Hinwil. That's our first priority."

Audi was attracted to F1 by the new 2026 engine rules, which increase the proportion of power output provided by the hybrid part of the engine to close to 50%.

Binotto said Audi's design programme on its engine was going well, but he expected that the engine would not be fully competitive by the start of 2026.

"The programme and facilities are great but still there is a learning curve," Binotto said. "I am expecting initially to have some gap to recover, but it will only be once we get on track we will understand where we are."

 

Bortoleto edging closer to Sauber race deal for 2025
Young Brazilian could get nod to land seat at future Audi Formula 1 team

 

Yet another Brazilian bank sponsoring one of its nationals all the way to F1: Banco BRB.

Good credentials for Bortoleto though, F3 champ last year and 2nd in F2 this season so far.

 

Binotto sees initial ‘gap to recover’ for Audi PU versus rivals

https://f1i.com/news/520665-binotto-sees-initial-gap-to-recover-for-audi-pu-versus-rivals.html


“So while I think the organization there [at Audi] is great, the facilities are great, the programs are going ahead, still there is a learning curve, which needs to be done.

“So I'm expecting initially to have a gap to recover. “How big it will be, I think that you can never know.”

Binotto emphasized that Audi will only fully understand the extent of the gap between itself and its competitors once its car hits the track.

In the interim, Audi still has over a year of development work ahead to ensure that it is as prepared as possible for 2026.

“Only by the time we will be on track that we can only understand. But we've got more than a year from now to then,” he said.

“There is an intense program on the dynos in development and it will be our task to make sure that we can enforce it, speeding up as much as we can, but try to be as competitive as we can be at the start of 2026. ”

 

Seeing blurps on FB about Mick getting a ride with Audi…..any truth to this…..and is this good or bad?
Forever a Michael fan, but not so much Mick. Happy to be proven wrong……

 

Binotto states he is one of the drivers being considered.

Audi says Schumacher in frame for 2025 Sauber F1 seat. F1 lifeline offered to Mick Schumacher with Audi chief saying he is on squad’s radar

 

Oh yes they can.
There have been several new efforts that went terribly wrong over the years.

They need to concentrate on someone with experience in testing, R&D, especially
with a totally new chassis, team, and I'm not so sure a 'kid' can do that, regardless
of how well they do in any underseries.

The number of underseries champions that have gone into F1 and done almost nothing is endless.
Thackwell, Corrado Fabi, Henton, Derek Daly, Serra, Dumfries (RIP), Herbert....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_Formula_Three_champions

 

There is some truth in that, but more than merit is needed to reach and stay in F1.
Some time a driver with just raw speed overcomes his lack of development skill, which he may acquire later.
I don't think Gilles Villeneuve or Ronnie Peterson were particularly gifted in that domain, but OMG, they were fast !!!

The problem facing all F1 newcomers is that lower categories being specs series don't teach them how to develop cars.

 

I think you got caught on the wrong foot here and tifosi12 is several steps ahead of us

 

I was really tempted to step in here, but this thread is already laced with bad puns.

 

Maybe if you tried to shoehorn in here instead…..but be careful not to slip-on anything…..

 

Binotto already demonstrated he was bad at leading a top team.
The dreadful 2022 season is all we need to know about his leadership skills.
He was mediocre at Ferrari then he will be mediocre with Audi.
Is Audi board becoming suddenly blind ?

 

Binotto was an engineer promoted to the position of principal where he wasn't suited.
His expertise was technical, not in management and PR.
At Audi, he should be technical director, and not in charge of operations. That may work.

 

Indeed he was highly rated when leading the power unit department at Ferrari.
We will see.

 

I would be more worried about Audi recruiting Mick Schumacher than by Binotto !!!

 

O

If they hire Mick instead of Bortoletto something is wrong indeed ..