Mattia Binotto: Audi F1 project still 'at base camp'

Audi is still at the very beginning of its Formula 1 journey as it prepares to replace the Sauber name in 2026, says company motorsport boss Mattia Binotto.

“There are still many goals,” Binotto told SID before the Dutch Grand Prix. “More podiums, even victories. In the end, we want to win the title, so there’s still a lot for him to do.”

Nico Hulkenberg, who recently stood on a Formula 1 podium for the first time, is at the heart of Audi’s vision. “I want Nico to climb to the front. I hope so. And I think so,” Binotto said. But he admitted the target remains distant. “We may not have started climbing yet, but we have defined our path to the summit and drawn up our plan. We’ll start climbing very soon.”

He said establishing a new works team is a unique challenge. “Building a works team from scratch is the most exciting task in Formula 1. It’s a huge challenge, it’s fascinating.” “In the next six months, a lot still needs to happen. The new car needs to be finalised, the new power unit needs to be optimised and homologated, but then it’s also about the brand, the launch, marketing, and sponsors.

"The challenges in Formula 1 encompass more than just the sporting side. We’re doing everything necessary and moving in the right direction, but time is running out.” Bernie Ecclestone, the former F1 supremo, also praised Audi’s trajectory.

“Yes, absolutely. They’re doing a good job at the moment," he told sport.de. "They’ve had some bad luck here and there, but it will all fall into place. It will be nice to see a major manufacturer enter Formula 1. They’ve overcome the difficult phases.”

On Hulkenberg’s long-awaited podium, the 94-year-old added: “His bad luck was that he hadn’t been sitting in the right car for years. That day, everything went right for him. "He’s a true Formula 1 driver.”