Mattia Binotto, Audi F1 Team
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Making its debut as a full factory team in the 2026 Formula 1 season, Audi currently sits ninth in the constructors’ championship, with its best result being Gabriel Bortoleto’s ninth-place finish in Australia. While the team’s performance has been modest so far, project chief Mattia Binotto is pleased with what he’s seen, acknowledging there’s plenty of room for improvement.
Speaking on the *Pitstop* podcast, Binotto was asked whether he believed the team would already be ahead of established rivals like Aston Martin at this stage. Up until the Miami GP, Audi also ranked ahead of Williams.
“Yes, I would have believed it. I think we can be incredible,” Binotto said. “We’re satisfied. The fundamentals of the car are right, and that’s what matters most. You can see some teams struggling with that, and it’s tough because, under a budget cap, you have to recover—spending time, energy, and money on problems.”
“For us, the focus is now on development. If we look ahead, the gap to the frontrunners is still huge—we need another big leap—but we know where we stand in our strategy. We’re still a small team with limited infrastructure and capacity, but we’ll get there.”
The Audi chief emphasized the team’s rookie status: “Everything is new.” Adding to the challenge, the Swiss outfit underwent a significant identity shift, having been Sauber until last year.
“We’re in year zero. It’s not just the car—it’s the paint, the brands, the mindset, the transformation to ‘We are Audi,’ not Sauber anymore. That’s important for the people too; it’s a complete transformation,” he explained. “We often say it’s like climbing a mountain, and maybe we need to conquer Everest. We’ve chosen our path up the mountain, but we’ve only just started the climb. So honestly, if I had to bet on a first podium, I’d say 2028. Maybe we’ll get lucky earlier, but 2028 is the most logical timeline.”
While the team remains ambitious, Binotto is realistic about the steep climb ahead, focusing on steady progress rather than immediate results. Audi fans may need to wait a few more years before seeing their team on the podium, but the Italian believes the foundation is solid.