Audi Formula 1 project chief Mattia Binotto has revealed the team’s “very, very long list” of tasks it needs to accomplish to be ready for its debut Grand Prix next month.
The German marque has taken over the Sauber entry from this year, and the R26 has already attracted interest, as the brand makes its long-awaited F1 debut.
After an initial filming day shakedown in Barcelona last month, the team travelled to the same circuit for last week’s behind-closed-doors test, and was reported to have completed 240 laps across the three allotted days each team was allowed.
Its total was eighth out of the 10 teams that took part, but with Aston Martin only completing 65 after just one-and-a-bit days’ running, its nearest challengers were fellow new outfit Cadillac and reigning Constructors’ Champions, McLaren.
Audi managed 76 laps more than the American squad, and just 47 less than the Woking-based team, and in total, covered a distance of 1,117 kilometres.
Lap times for the team were not sensational, but in these sorts of tests, they are equally unimportant, and given the team, whilst still holding much Sauber DNA through its personnel and driver line-up, the power unit was an Audi project – a significant task given the new regulations cycle in place, which has been a challenge for all manufacturers, regardless of experience.
Therefore, it could be said that Audi would be able to come away from Barcelona content with its week’s work, but it is under no illusions that there is a lot more to be done between now and next week’s first of two official testing schedules in Bahrain.
“It’s a lot of work for the entire team, it’s a lot of work for the drivers, for the engineers back at home, fixing all the problems: design, operational, whatever we have seen,” Binotto said.
“So it’s really for us, no stones [left] unturned. All the details need to be managed and need to be fixed, so we’ve got a very long list. A very, very long list. I’ve never seen such a long list.
“But I think it’s great because the team is really committed, willing to improve and to come to Bahrain in a better shape.”
Binotto: Audi ‘doing well’ given its starting point
The R26 did suffer breakdowns during the week, which, again, is to be expected in not only a test so early, but one for a new ruleset which teams having been scratching their collective heads over since way before this year even began.
Binotto is keenly aware of the work that the team needs to tackle to be race-ready, but indicated that position it is currently in under the circumstances is a positive one.
“We know that there is a lot for us to build, a lot to grow. These three days of running have been very important,” he said.
“I think we are doing well for where we are on our journey. The reliability is always very critical but we had several problems. Small ones, not dramatic, and I think here again there are a lot of positive looking forwards.”
Bahrain testing takes place on 11-13 and 18-20 February.
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