Matta Binotto: “We are like Ferrari under Jean Todt in 1993, the goal is to win in 2030”. Mattia Binotto discusses Audi’s long-term F1 goals, drawing a parallel with Ferrari's 1993 journey.

The big former Ferrari figure doesn’t hide Audi’s ambitions
“Audi isn’t entering just to participate.” Audi’s entry into F1 will be the big news of 2026, when everything will change on a regulatory level, starting with the power units. The German manufacturer is gradually taking control of Sauber’s shares, and 2025 will be the last year under the name of the Swiss team based in Hinwil. The season began with a highlight from Nico Hulkenberg in Australia: the German driver, whom Audi has chosen both for his nationality and the guaranteed performance due to his long experience, finished the Melbourne race in seventh place, securing six precious points for Sauber, which is currently ninth in the Constructors’ standings, ahead of Alpine, still stuck at zero points.

The prospects for 2025 are not much brighter than fighting to avoid the last position in the team standings, but starting next year, the goals will change, as emphasized by Ferrari’s great former Mattia Binotto, now at the helm of Audi’s F1 project: “How is the challenge at Audi different from Ferrari? It’s much bigger – said Mattia Binotto in an interview with Il Corriere della Sera – we’re starting from a team at the bottom of the grid that has to climb all the way, it’s immense. A bit like Ferrari under Jean Todt in 1993, I see a lot of energy. And there’s also the awareness of being part of a brand like Audi, which has won everything in every category of motorsport. We’ve set a path, goals, and stages to reach the top. In 2030, we want to win.”

Mattia Binotto will have Jonathan Wheatley with him, who comes from Red Bull, a figure with great experience who won a lot with the Milton Keynes team and will allow Mattia Binotto to not attend every GP to supervise work at the factory. The goal, indeed, is to win in 2030: “All winning cycles take time: Ferrari’s cycle – Jean Todt arrived in 1993 and won the first title in 1999. The same goes for Red Bull and Mercedes. Audi isn’t entering just to participate.” This weekend, there will be a very important meeting between Liberty Media, the FIA, and the engine manufacturers regarding engines. The idea of returning to V10 engines doesn’t particularly excite Mattia Binotto: “The world has moved on, and looking back never does any good.” – the former Ferrari team principal concluded.