Binotto: Audi ‘doesn’t intend to surprise’ in 2026 – patience needed

Audi’s long-awaited arrival on the Formula 1 grid is edging closer, but Mattia Binotto is once again keen to temper expectations.

The man charged with steering the German manufacturer into the sport insists the foundations are finally being laid – yet warns that anyone expecting fireworks in year one is looking in the wrong direction.

Now leading the transformation of Sauber into Audi’s full works operation, Binotto is focused on momentum, not miracles, as the project builds toward an ambitious target of fighting for titles by the end of the decade.

Building Credibility, Not Hype

Results on track have already offered encouragement. Sauber emerged as a regular points scorers this season, collecting 70 points – their best return in more than a decade – and Nico Hülkenberg’s emotional first career podium at Silverstone added belief that progress is real.

For Binotto, the biggest shift has been internal.

“I think, as a project, we are going in the right path, the right direction and some credibility. We are building some credibility. I can see the dynamic, how much the dynamic has changed,” the former Ferrari F1 chief told Reuter’s Alan Baldwin.

That confidence was not always present. Audi’s early F1 steps were clouded by management turnover and uncertainty, with several senior figures departing before Binotto arrived to take control.

Since then, fresh investment, a minority stake from Qatar Investment Authority and Revolut’s arrival as title sponsor have helped steady the ship.

“For the employees, that’s pretty clear,” Binotto added. “We are expanding, we are investing in the long term. Those facts are bringing a lot of credibility towards the project for the employees. There is no doubt that Audi is fully committed.

“The investments that we are doing currently with Audi, all of them are long-term projects because they are investments that we will see the return on them, in terms of performance, maybe in three or four years’ time.”

No Shortcuts To Success

While excitement is building ahead of Audi’s first season – including a high-profile livery launch in Berlin in January – Binotto has little interest in fueling talk of instant competitiveness when F1’s major technical reset arrives.

“I think we need patience, we are still in that building phase,” he said. “I’m not expecting to have the best engine next year at all, but still it doesn’t matter because we know that we have set our objectives for 2030.

“We don’t intend to be a surprise next year,” he insisted.

Binotto also played down comparisons with Red Bull’s own power unit project, noting the differing backgrounds of the two operations.

“I think, they’ve got more specific skills,” said Binotto. “We’ve got the background of what’s Audi, what’s the knowledge of Audi, which in the long term will certainly make the difference.”

For Audi, the message is clear: credibility first, trophies later – and no illusions about shortcuts on Formula 1’s longest road.

Read also: Audi sets date to unveil 2026 F1 car livery and team identity

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