Sauber is approaching its transition to Audi’s full works Formula 1 team not as a simple rebrand, but as a rare opportunity to build a modern racing outfit from a blank sheet.
The Swiss outfit is in its final season before the German manufacturer takes full control ahead of its 2026 F1 debut.
Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg lead the driver line-up this season, with the latter delivering the team’s standout performance so far — a fifth-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix.
That result propelled Sauber to eighth in the Constructors’ Championship, edging them ahead of Alpine and Aston Martin.
However, with an iconic brand like Audi preparing to enter the sport, the team’s primary focus is firmly on the transition, led by CEO Mattia Binotto and newly appointed acting Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley.
In a recent interview with Motorsport.com, Binotto was asked what innovative ideas Audi could bring to F1 in 2026 — and suggested the most impactful changes may lie not on the car, but in how the team is structured and run behind the scenes.
“It won’t necessarily be in the technical area, on the car,” he said.
We are lucky to have started from a blank sheet of paper and therefore we can set up the team with an organisation that is perhaps different from the others.
“We have already started: between me and Jonathan there is a division of tasks that the others don’t have.
I will focus more on the organisational part of the company, while he will dedicate himself to managing the 24 grands prix.
I think it’s an innovative, evolved way of thinking about modern Formula 1.”
Binotto on Sauber’s growth and Audi’s F1 ambition
The ex-Ferrari chief also spoke on Sauber’s aims this season.
“It must be a year of growth, if possible,” he added.
“I don’t think our position in the Constructors’ Championship matters as much as fighting for points at every race, and we need to find consistency in results, that would be a major leap.”
Audi enters F1 backed by a strong motorsport legacy, including multiple Le Mans wins, DTM titles, rally success with the quattro, and a recent Dakar Rally victory with electrified technology.
But while its track record is formidable, the challenge ahead is entirely new. Despite the scale of the task, there is a growing sense of belief within the camp.
Questioned on whether there’s more fear or hope surrounding the project, Binotto responded: “I am increasingly convinced of this project.
“In addition to being attracted by what the brand represents in motorsport, I am attracted by the possibility of writing the history of the four rings in Formula 1.
“I was convinced by Audi’s desire to do well and to put the energy into the project.
“There is the conviction, despite the difficulties that the automotive industry is experiencing, to reach our goal by 2030. This is a team game, not an individual game.”
READ MORE – Audi tightens F1 structure as Mattia Binotto takes charge ahead of 2026 entry
