Binotto’s Plan: Audi’s Road to the F1 Crown

Binotto lays out Audi’s ambitious F1 roadmap, aiming to build a competitive team in three years and fight for the title by 2030.

Mattia Binotto appears ready to see the Sauber cars in fluorescent green and black at the back of the Formula 1 grid again in 2025.

This season is the last before the Swiss-based team, now fully owned by Audi, completes its transition to becoming the official Audi works team from 2026 onwards.

“We are at the beginning of the journey to transform Sauber into an Audi Formula 1 team and ultimately into a top-level team,” said the Italian, who returned to F1 last year after losing his role as Ferrari team principal in 2022.

Binotto oversees Sauber’s transition to Audi, with the goal of “fighting for the world championship in 2030.”

“We have five seasons ahead of us until then. The first three years will be dedicated to building the team, and the following two to consolidating and refining so that we can achieve our goals.”

“You can’t complete this transformation in a single season or a few months. Where do we stand? The team is not yet where we want it to be, neither in terms of personnel nor tools. But we see the necessary growth.”

The goal for 2025 is simply to take further steps for the future—for example, by adding 200 more people to the staff and working on establishing the new secondary site in the UK.

This year’s results, Binotto admits, are not too important.

“We are in a different situation from others. We need to improve as a team. Our project must be credible and attractive. That allows us to attract people and sponsors more easily and to motivate the existing team.”

Regarding the 2025 car, all Binotto wants is a demonstration “that we have learned and understood the lessons of the previous season.”

“We cannot wait until 2026 to prove it, so for me, 2025 is an important season.”

“We hope for a strong start to the season, which will then allow us to focus on 2026 as early as possible. There may be more than one upgrade, but there won’t be many.”

Binotto also admits he hopes the old perception that Audi and Volkswagen might regret their decision to enter Formula 1 will fade by 2025.

“Audi fully supports it, and I don’t think anyone doubts it anymore. The fact that Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is involved in the project was an important message. It also sends an internal message that this is a long-term commitment from Audi.”

For 2026, Audi intends to supply engines only to its own works team, but Binotto believes it will at least be important to follow the example of rival teams by forming political alliances within the pitlane.

“It’s a good idea. There are a few teams that are not part of any alliance. It would be good if those teams formed one.”