Audi, Binotto: “The power unit is the biggest challenge. Significant updates coming in Miami”

In a season full of major changes, Audi is taking a step-by-step approach, avoiding unnecessary pressure and focusing on steady, patient development. In their first year in Formula 1, the German team—formed from the restructuring of the former Sauber organisation—certainly did not expect immediate top results. In the first three races of the season, Gabriel Bortoleto has been the only driver to score points, while the team failed to finish both in Australia and on two separate occasions: Bortoleto in China and Nico Hülkenberg at the Albert Park circuit. The path is clearly uphill, but Audi’s long-term objective is to fight for the championship by 2030. But where does the project currently stand? Team principal Mattia Binotto answers in an interview with F1.com.

“I would have signed up to see the progress we’ve made so far,” Binotto says after Suzuka. “It’s also very easy to make mistakes. Some teams are struggling. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with our car or our project, and that is the most important thing, because when there is a fundamental issue, you need to intervene and fix it.”

The team principal then explains the issues linked to the new power unit and the development updates expected for the Miami Grand Prix.

“Our performance gap is mainly due to the power unit”

After the initial shakedown in Barcelona, Audi brought a significant update package to Bahrain, which demonstrated that the chassis is already one of the strongest elements of the entire project. On the other hand, the main weakness currently lies in the newly developed in-house power unit.

“We are also aware that, if we look at overall performance and the gap to the front runners, the biggest margin for improvement lies in the power unit itself,” explains Mattia Binotto. “So most of our performance gap is due to the power unit, which is not surprising. We expected it. We know how difficult it is to build a completely new engine, so it is not something that has surprised us, nor something that disappoints us.”

The new concept of the Formula 1 power unit, where thermal energy and electrical energy carry equal weight, has proven to be a major challenge for multiple teams, including both established manufacturers and newer entrants. Beyond the engine itself, a key difficulty lies in how teams and drivers are able to extract maximum performance from the system. It is a completely new challenge for everyone involved.

“We knew that would be the biggest challenge,” Mattia Binotto continues. “We also knew that this is where the greatest performance gain potential lies, because I believe the gap is significant, especially on the power unit side, but we are planning to develop it.”

Engine performance is not the only issue. Reliability and race starts have also influenced the opening rounds for both drivers. There are several areas that require improvement, which is completely normal for a new project of this scale. For this reason, Audi’s leadership has set a clear long-term target for 2030.

“We set the 2030 target because we knew how long it would take,” Mattia Binotto explains. “We are focusing on where we are and what needs to be done.”

“It is not just about power,” he adds. “It is about energy efficiency, energy deployment, but also the drivability of the engine itself. When we talk about drivability, we also include the gearbox, which is currently quite harsh for us.”

He goes into further technical detail: “The car is unstable under braking and acceleration because of the gearbox stiffness. Maybe the gear ratios are not correctly calibrated. Drivability is just as important as pure performance. I think if you combine both areas—performance and drivability—you can gain up to one second per lap. I believe that regarding the car itself, from a chassis perspective, we have done a good job. Most of the advantage is coming from the power unit. We will make it.” – the former Ferrari team boss pointed out.

“The April break is an opportunity: updates coming in Miami”

After the first three races of the season, an unexpected break arrives for the Formula 1 paddock. With the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, there is a five-week gap between Japan and the next round in Miami. This pause becomes a key opportunity for all teams to regroup and develop.

“I think it is a real opportunity for us because, since the winter tests, we have been heavily focused on solving all the issues we had, making sure we were prepared and had fixed them for the next race,” says Mattia Binotto.

He continues: “Race preparation has taken up a huge amount of time. When you are fully absorbed by preparation, you cannot develop your full potential. So I think the April break, which is not really a break, will be very important for us to reset, focus on upcoming developments, and make sure we not only fix problems but also progress properly.”

The cancellation of two Grands Prix has reshaped the development plans of several teams, many of which had originally planned to introduce upgrades during the Middle Eastern rounds as well as in Miami. As a result, it is likely that we will see a large number of combined upgrade packages introduced in the United States.

“I have heard that many teams will bring performance upgrade packages,” Mattia Binotto states. “I think it will be the same for us in the wind tunnel. I believe the development rate under these new regulations is still very high. So yes, we will definitely bring a package, and it will be significant compared to what we have used before. It is a relative competition: I do not know how much stronger we will be compared to others, but I am satisfied with what we have done and developed. I am confident that, with the packages we are introducing, we can at least continue fighting for the position we have reached today.”

In conclusion, Mattia Binotto’s assessment reveals an Audi team that is realistic about its current technical limitations but optimistic about its trajectory. By identifying the “one-second” gain hidden within power unit driveability and energy deployment, the team has a clear target for its Miami updates. As the 2026 season unfolds, the upcoming technical packages will be the first real test of Audi’s ability to close the gap on the established frontrunners.