Audi fires shot at F1 titans — but braces for engine gremlins

Audi’s Formula 1 revolution is roaring into life – but Mattia Binotto is under no illusions that the road to glory will be smooth.

The German giant’s power-unit project may be packed with ambition and industrial muscle, yet its chief architect is already bracing for early turbulence.

Confidence? Absolutely. Perfection from day one? Not a chance.

The former Ferrari team boss, now steering Audi’s technical and operational charge, has made it clear that while the long-term target is nothing short of supremacy, the early chapters of this story will likely include breakdowns, bruised weekends, and uncomfortable lessons.

Chasing the Established Titans

Audi enters the 2026 Formula 1 grid as one of two new power-unit manufacturers, alongside Red Bull Powertrains in technical partnership with Ford.

It is a bold arrival into a battlefield historically dominated by three industrial heavyweights: Mercedes, Ferrari, and Honda – a trio whose collective résumé reads like an F1 history book.

Between them, those manufacturers have amassed 576 grand prix victories, more than half of all races ever held in the world championship, alongside 35 drivers’ crowns and 34 constructors’ titles.

The numbers are intimidating. The legacy is enormous. And Audi is walking straight into their shadow. Binotto, however, refuses to be cowed by the statistics.

“They've got the most experience, they are settled-down organisations and if a team or manufacturer was great in the past, they will remain great in the future, there is no doubt,” he said, quoted by RacingNews365.

“They are very strong competitors, it will be a very difficult challenge for us, but on the other side, I think we've got all the means to become, one day, successful and becoming the benchmark powertrains as well.”

It’s a statement that blends respect with quiet defiance — a recognition of the mountain ahead, coupled with an unmistakable belief that Audi intends to stand at the summit eventually.

Gremlins, Growing Pains and a 2030 Vision

Reality has already delivered its first reminders that ambition alone does not power a Formula 1 engine.

During last week’s pre-season shakedown in Barcelona, Audi clocked 240 laps but saw valuable running interrupted by technical gremlins affecting both Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. The message was clear: the learning curve will be steep.

Binotto is not shying away from that reality. In fact, he’s leaning into it.

“I'm not expecting our powertrains to be the best at the start, that would be impossible and unrealistic, but I think we are on our journey and we need to stay focused on ourselves,” he said.

Audi’s declared goal is to be fighting for world titles by 2030 – a timeline that in corporate terms may seem distant, but in Formula 1 cycles is alarmingly close.

Regulations change quickly, competitive windows open and slam shut without warning, and momentum can be both a weapon and a weakness.

“Our task to be successful by 2030 may be perceived as a long way away, but it is not, it is tomorrow and the day after and we are staying focused on ourselves and staying humble,” the Italian added.

• Read also: No panic at Audi despite testing gremlins: ‘This is why we test’

That humility is paired with a blunt admission: failure will visit. Reliability issues are not a possibility; they are practically an expectation.

“We may face problems during the season, we may face reliability failures, but what will count most for me is the team reacting properly, with no stone left unturned and learning from the problem and showing capacity in progressing.”

In other words, Audi’s early campaign may be less about trophies and more about resilience – how fast the organisation can adapt when the inevitable setbacks arrive.

“If we will be capable of progressing race-by-race, no doubt with the means we have got, with the full commitment of Audi as a brand, we may become as strong as the other, if not better,” Binotto concluded.

It is a spicy mix of realism and bravado: an admission that the opening laps of Audi’s F1 era could be messy, paired with the unwavering belief that the destination is dominance.

The giants of Mercedes, Ferrari, and Honda are firmly in sight – and Audi is revving up for a long, loud chase.

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