At mid-season, the head of Audi takes stock of the manufacturer’s arrival in Formula 1. A positive assessment, but still far from fully satisfying him.
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After years of preparation and considerable investments, Audi finally made its debut in Formula 1 this season. While expectations were high around the German manufacturer, Mattia Binotto reminds that the goal was never to immediately aim for podiums or victories.
The CEO and team principal prefers to judge this first campaign on the foundations laid for the future. And when asked to summarize these first months of competition, his answer fits in just five words.
“Satisfied, but not yet happy.”
A phrase that perfectly sums up the Italian leader’s mindset.
A healthy car, an essential starting point
For Mattia Binotto, the main reason for satisfaction concerns the design of the R26. According to him, Audi avoided the worst-case scenario imaginable for a first season: discovering a major flaw in the concept of its car.
On the contrary, the chassis constitutes a solid base on which the team can now build.
“Overall, we have a good car, without fundamental problems. This is exactly what we could hope for to build our future. We have a healthy car, without major weaknesses.”
The leader emphasizes the importance of this observation.
“From now on, it’s about developing this car, not correcting design errors or starting from scratch. This is a very positive point for a project that is just beginning.”
Potential hampered by reliability
While the chassis meets expectations, not everything has been easy for Audi during this first half of the season.
The team had perfectly launched its adventure with points from its first Grand Prix in Australia thanks to Gabriel Bortoleto. But the rest has been much more complicated.
Reliability issues, an engine sometimes lagging behind the competition, as well as several operational errors have regularly prevented the team from realizing its potential.
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“We have had ups and downs. After our first points in Australia, we suffered several reliability issues and some operational errors. It’s almost inevitable when a new project starts, but in Formula 1, the competition doesn’t wait for you.”
Encouraging progress before the summer break
Despite these difficulties, Audi ended the first part of the season on a more positive note.
The team managed to reduce the number of incidents encountered during races while showing more consistent performances. This progress was reflected by three consecutive points finishes before the summer break, a first since the opening Grand Prix.
For Binotto, this evolution confirms that the work done behind the scenes is starting to pay off.
“The team is working very well. Everyone remains focused, involved, and determined. The results of the last races show that we are moving in the right direction.”
Patience remains the key word
Since taking charge of the Audi project, Mattia Binotto has repeated that transforming the team into a contender for victories will take several years. The stated goal remains to compete at the top by 2030.
In this perspective, having a well-born car represents an essential step, even if the current results do not yet fully reflect its potential.
“As I said, I am not yet happy, but I am satisfied.”
A measured assessment that perfectly reflects Audi’s approach: prioritizing solid foundations today in order to build, step by step, a team capable of aiming for the heights of Formula 1 in the years to come.
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