Audi has confirmed a major reshuffle in its Formula 1 project ahead of its full works debut in 2026, placing Mattia Binotto in overall charge of the operation and scrapping the CEO role at its powertrain division as part of a broader streamlining effort.
Binotto, who joined the programme in the summer of 2024, is now officially leading the Audi F1 Project, with oversight across all technical and development sites, including the Sauber-run base in Hinwil, the Neuburg engine facility, and a planned technical centre in the UK.
His remit does not include acting as Team Principal, but rather aligning development across chassis and powertrain as Audi ramps up efforts to enter as a fully integrated factory team.
“As Head of the Audi F1 Project, Mattia Binotto will be responsible for development activities at the Hinwil and Neuburg an der Donau facilities, as well as at the future technical centre in England,” the manufacturer confirmed.
“The close coordination of development activities is aimed at achieving seamless coordination between race car and powertrain.”
The announcement comes just 10 months before Audi joins the grid in partnership with Sauber, which is currently competing under the Stake F1 Team banner during this interim season.
A fresh management structure for Audi F1
The full rebrand to Audi will happen in 2026, but work behind the scenes has now accelerated with a fresh management structure put in place.
Christian Foyer has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Audi Formula Racing GmbH (AFR), the company responsible for the 2026-spec hybrid power unit.
Foyer’s background spans 18 years in F1, having worked across various manufacturers and operations departments.
He replaces Adam Baker, who is stepping away by mutual agreement after helping get the Neuburg engine project off the ground.
“We would like to thank Adam Baker for his commitment over the past years,” said Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management at AUDI AG.
“He played a decisive role in shaping the overall strategic concept for the entry of Audi into Formula 1 and got the development of the power unit in Neuburg off the ground.
“With Christian Foyer, we are now bringing a proven expert in process structures in F1 powertrain development into the project. His experience will help ensure the synergistic cooperation and necessary speed on the journey we have embarked upon regarding the debut.”
As part of the restructure, the CEO role at AFR has been dissolved entirely. Stefan Dreyer will continue as Chief Technical Officer and take on the additional responsibility of speaking for the AFR management board.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Wheatley, who joined Sauber in April after a long career as Red Bull’s Sporting Director is now Team Principal of the current Stake F1 Team and will remain in charge as the outfit transitions into Audi’s works entry.
Wheatley’s remit covers race operations and strategic representation at Team Principal level in F1’s official forums.
He will work “in close collaboration with Mattia Binotto” as Audi looks to tighten synergy between its power unit and chassis programmes.
The changes reinforce Audi’s intent to arrive not as a disjointed newcomer, but as a purpose-built factory team with the kind of cohesion and vertical integration seen at the sport’s top outfits. With experienced figures now embedded across both engineering and operations, the pressure will be on in 2025 to ensure the pieces come together in time for lights out in 2026.
READ MORE – Mattia Binotto brands Audi project the ‘greatest and most ambitious’ in F1
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