“For decades we have fine-tuned our tools around the regulations, so we know what’s going to be fast and what’s important to be fast. That’s the biggest change for the future.
“What will be more important is a question mark, because if you ask our tools today, they may give you an answer, but I think the reality and the facts may be different when we start racing.”
The Audi team has been predicted to struggle on its debut next year, due in part to already seeing major management upheaval due to unhappiness with the project’s progress in the build-up to 2026.
Original project leader Andreas Seidl was brought in from early 2023 but found himself removed 18 months later, as well as Sauber chairman Oliver Hoffman. They were replaced by Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley as team boss.
It’s thought Audi had made an already difficult proposition even harder for itself before the new management came in.
Binotto, who was fired from his position as team boss from Ferrari in 2022 after over 25 years at Maranello, rose to prominence through the Scuderia’s technical ranks.
Boffin at work… Audi has a huge task on its hands in getting ready for 2026
Audi
Working primarily on the engine side, the Swiss-Italian over saw the introduction of KERS in 2009 and the introduction of the first hybrid turbo units in 2014.
Binotto is still an engineer at heart, and says he relishes the chance of a new technological challenge, in addition to other reasons the rules could be good for F1.
“It’s the biggest maybe change in 30 years at least,” he says. “Is it good or bad?
