Mattia Binotto: Audi has the fourth-best chassis on the grid and aims to close engine gap by 2028
Mattia Binotto is not hiding from reality. Audi is still some distance away from fighting for race victories, but the German manufacturer’s team principal sees several highly encouraging signs, particularly on the chassis side of the project.
Speaking at length on the Beyond The Grid podcast, the former Ferrari team boss provided a detailed assessment of Audi’s Formula 1 programme, openly discussing the strengths, weaknesses and long-term objectives of the Hinwil-based team.
“I am very satisfied with the R26 chassis”
Starting with the car itself, Mattia Binotto explained that he was extremely pleased with the progress made by Audi’s chassis department.
“I am very satisfied with the R26 chassis. We have a good correlation between the wind tunnel and the simulator, and from an engineering perspective that was the most important aspect. I believe our car is very fast in the corners and we think we are actually the fourth-best team in terms of chassis performance. For a former Sauber team, that is an extraordinary achievement.”
The statement highlights the significant technical progress made by the Swiss operation since Audi officially entered Formula 1. According to Mattia Binotto, the improvements cannot be attributed to a single component or breakthrough but rather to a comprehensive transformation across the entire organisation.
He stressed that the team’s development has been driven by improvements in structure, methodology and working culture.
“The biggest change was providing a clear direction, a clear objective and motivating people. That has been the most important aspect.”
Mattia Binotto: Audi must change its mentality compared to Sauber
During the interview, Mattia Binotto explained that Audi’s biggest challenge extends far beyond infrastructure upgrades or recruitment programmes. In his view, the real task is transforming the team’s entire culture.
According to the Italian manager, the previous Sauber organisation had become accustomed to operating with limited resources and focusing primarily on financial survival. Audi, by contrast, has openly declared its ambition to become a front-running Formula 1 team: “When you need to transform a team, it is not only about buildings or processes. You have to change habits, mentality and behaviour. People were used to not spending money and to achieving the maximum possible with the resources available. Now the ambition is completely different.”
That shift in mindset is central to Audi’s plans for the future. As a result, Mattia Binotto outlined a broader objective for the 2026 season that goes beyond points and championship positions.
“Being competitive is not about looking at the number of points or finishing positions. It means that every person in the team must understand what it truly means to compete. You cannot be satisfied simply with participating. By the end of the season, I want it to be obvious to everyone, to the fans and to the media, that Audi has arrived and is becoming a serious team.”
“The problem is the engine, but we do not need a new Adrian Newey“
While Mattia Binotto expressed great satisfaction with the chassis package, his assessment was considerably more cautious when discussing Audi’s power unit.
The manufacturer had to develop its 2026 Formula 1 engine entirely from scratch, including the electrical systems, as part of one of the most significant technical regulation changes in the sport’s history.
The Audi team principal openly acknowledged the challenges involved: “If we measure the gap to the top teams, the biggest deficit is probably in the power unit: performance, control and drivability.”
The main issue concerns the management of electrical energy generated exclusively through the MGU-K system, which has become increasingly important following the removal of the MGU-H from Formula 1’s next-generation power units.
This is an area where several manufacturers have encountered difficulties, but Audi appears to be paying a particularly high price in terms of competitiveness: “To improve the engine, we will need to modify the hardware. We believe reaching the correct level by 2027 is not realistic, while 2028 could be the right moment.”
The comments provide a clear indication that Audi views its Formula 1 project as a long-term undertaking rather than expecting immediate success.
Why Audi is not relying on a single superstar designer
Discussing the challenge of catching Formula 1’s leading teams, Mattia Binotto used Adrian Newey as an example to explain why Audi is not building its future around a single star engineer.
According to the former Ferrari team boss, modern Formula 1 has become far too complex for one individual to single-handedly transform a team’s fortunes: “The complexity of modern Formula 1 is such that we do not believe one person can make the difference on their own. It will be a collective effort.”
Instead, Audi is focusing heavily on developing young talent and building long-term strength from within the organisation: “We are hiring many young graduates. It is our investment for the future. When you walk through the team’s corridors, you meet people who are 25 or 27 years old. It is a very young team and I am proud of that.”
The strategy reflects Audi’s intention to establish a sustainable structure capable of competing at the highest level for many years rather than relying on short-term solutions.
Lessons from Ferrari and Michael Schumacher
One of the most interesting sections of the interview focused on Mattia Binotto’s experiences at Ferrari, where he spent the majority of his Formula 1 career. The Italian reflected on the influence of Jean Todt and, above all, Michael Schumacher during Ferrari‘s most successful era.
“I think Michael was even stronger as a leader than as a driver. He was always able to push the team to do better. He demanded the maximum from everyone, but first of all from himself. He was a role model for everybody and he knew every single person in the team.”
For Mattia Binotto, the leadership qualities displayed by Michael Schumacher played a crucial role in creating Ferrari’s winning culture during the early 2000s. It is precisely that culture that he hopes to recreate at Audi.
“The size of the teams has changed and the complexity has increased, but a winning culture remains the same. That is exactly what we are trying to recreate at Audi.”
Although Audi still faces significant challenges, particularly regarding its power unit development, Mattia Binotto’s comments suggest there is growing confidence within the organisation. The chassis appears to be progressing faster than expected, the team structure continues to evolve and a long-term roadmap is already in place.
Whether Audi can transform those foundations into race-winning performances remains to be seen, but the project appears to be moving steadily in the direction envisioned by its leadership.
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