Sauber’s emotional eighth-place finish in Qatar brought tears and renewed hope, marking a key morale boost for the struggling team.
Sauber/Stake F1 ended a year-long drought without scoring a single point last week in Qatar, thanks to Guanyu Zhou’s eighth-place finish. While this result doesn’t change the fact that the Hinwil-based team will finish last in the 2024 season, CEO Mattia Binotto insists it has been a significant morale boost heading into the winter break and next season.
“This race was important for us. It’s an important result. We had zero points throughout the season, and that’s very painful for the whole team. You want to see progress and, more than that, try to score points. I think we had excellent upgrades in the last few races, especially in Las Vegas. We know that to score points, someone ahead of us has to make mistakes or something has to happen, but we need to be right there, ready to seize the opportunity. And that’s what happened in Qatar. Scoring points was fantastic—four points that are very important, showing progress and that we’re moving in the right direction, demonstrating that what we’re producing correlates with the wind tunnel and simulator, which is very encouraging for us.”
“This is encouraging for the team. I must say it was also very emotional for all the staff. I saw very emotional people in the garage, someone even crying. I was very emotional as well. I wasn’t used to being emotional about finishing eighth, but now it happens, because we know where we are and where we’ve come from. Again, as I said, these are four very important points as we look ahead to the future and the seasons to come.”
After four months leading his new team, Binotto now has a clearer view of what needs to be achieved ahead of the 2026 season, which will introduce new regulations and mark Audi F1’s official arrival.
“The impressions after four months are very similar to those I had after two weeks because when you join a team, the first impressions you have are often the correct ones. Obviously, I have the reference of my past experience with a different team, certainly a top-level outfit, and the comparison is direct in every area. I don’t think it’s about any single factor; it’s about the overall picture in the end. The team is fantastic. The people are great. I think we have good individuals as a foundation for the future, but then you look at the gaps and the scale—it’s 400 fewer people compared to a top-level team. That’s significantly less manufacturing capacity, less engineering capacity, and a simulator that is very outdated.”
“I think it’s about the entire facility, meaning everything that is ultimately required. But we knew this; we know it’s a long journey for us. It’s not something that can be changed in a few months or even a few seasons. We’ve always said our goal is to succeed by 2030, by the end of the decade. But I think that’s exactly the amount of time it will take to achieve that. And even that timeline, I believe, is very challenging to meet.”
A “winning mentality” will be needed to make Audi victorious in Formula 1
Valtteri Bottas, who will not be part of the team next season, said a few months ago that Sauber must learn a winning culture if it wants to contend for titles in the future, Audi F1’s long-term goal—a sentiment Binotto agrees with.
“I completely agree with him. In fact, I believe this team, over the last decade, has been in survival mode. Ultimately, it was about surviving, participating, and trying to make the best of the situation. But a winning mentality requires a different approach. There is certainly a lot to address in terms of culture and behaviors. Again, I think this aligns with what we’ve just discussed. The road ahead is long, we know that, and changing behaviors is perhaps the most challenging part. But we’ve started our journey. I believe we have some projects in motion.”
“You mentioned the last four months. I must say that since I started, a lot has happened, not only in terms of on-track improvements but also with Gabriel Bortoleto’s signing and establishing a new line-up for next year. This also includes Qatar, the investment, and the partnership, which for us represents a significant capital injection. It also shows that, as a team, we’re collectively moving in the right direction with, I believe, the right approach, the right mindset, and a vision that matches the winning mentality we’re discussing.”
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Binotto Reflects: Tears Flow as Sauber Scores in Qatar Binotto Reflects: Tears Flow as Sauber Scores in Qatar Binotto Reflects: Tears Flow as Sauber Scores in Qatar
