Mattia Binotto has a very clear vision of what Audi wants to achieve in Formula 1, particularly over the long term. That clarity is valuable because it demonstrates that the German manufacturer has established a precise roadmap outlining the steps required to transform ambition into a realistic plan capable of delivering victories in the future.
Over recent months, the Audi Team Principal has repeatedly emphasized the team’s ultimate objective: fighting for the Formula 1 World Championship by 2030.
There will be no rushed shortcuts or unrealistic expectations. Instead, Audi is following a carefully structured plan. According to Mattia Binotto, the journey toward becoming a title-contending team requires several intermediate stages, especially considering the transformation needed to turn one of Formula 1’s smaller organizations into a genuine championship challenger.
The project is progressing on multiple fronts, including personnel, infrastructure and technical development.
Speaking on Formula 1’s official Beyond The Grid podcast, Mattia Binotto explained that Audi has internally discussed and agreed upon a roadmap designed to guide the team toward its long-term objectives.
“We have discussed it extensively within the team. While we have set ourselves a target for 2030, we also have a roadmap with specific milestones, including goals for 2026. The first step is becoming a competitive team, perhaps an outsider initially, then a genuine contender for race victories and eventually a championship contender,” he explained.
The former Ferrari Team Principal stressed that Audi’s first season as a full Formula 1 manufacturer in 2026 will be focused primarily on competitiveness rather than specific championship positions or points targets.
“2026 will be our very first season as Audi, and becoming competitive is really our ambition and objective. It is not about the number of points we score, how many times we reach Q3, or our final championship position. It is about a transformation in mentality.”
Audi focused on creating a winning culture
One of the most important aspects highlighted by Mattia Binotto is the need to establish a championship-winning mindset throughout the organization.
Building a successful Formula 1 team requires far more than modern facilities and talented engineers. It also requires a culture capable of sustaining excellence over many years. For a team that has spent much of its recent history competing in the midfield and lower positions while operating with more limited resources, developing that mentality is considered an essential part of the process.
Mattia Binotto explained that competitiveness means ensuring every member of the organization fully understands what it means to represent Audi in Formula 1.
“Being competitive means that every single person in the team understands what it truly means to compete and what it means to be Audi. It is no longer about simply taking part. It is about leaving nothing unexplored, continuing to improve, raising expectations and pushing ourselves to get better at every single race.”
He added that one of his biggest sources of satisfaction would be seeing that transformation recognized not only internally, but also by fans and the media.
“I would be very pleased if, by the end of the season, this mentality and this way of thinking were visible not only to us inside the team but also to fans and journalists. I want people to see the transformation and recognize that Audi has entered Formula 1 and is becoming a serious force.”
New personnel and expanded facilities
Audi’s transformation is taking place across several interconnected areas. Recruiting experienced personnel from successful Formula 1 teams is considered an important part of that strategy.
This explains the decision to bring in Jonathan Wheatley before his eventual departure from Red Bull. His experience within a championship-winning environment, combined with his understanding of Formula 1 operations and personnel, was viewed as a valuable asset. Audi has also expanded its presence in the United Kingdom to improve recruitment opportunities while simultaneously investing in the development of its facilities in Hinwil, Switzerland.
The Hinwil headquarters remains a crucial element of Audi’s Formula 1 operation. While the power unit is being developed in Germany, the Swiss facility is responsible for the chassis and aerodynamic side of the project.
Binotto: Audi already has the fourth-best chassis
Discussing the performance of the R26, Mattia Binotto provided one of the most surprising assessments of the season so far.
Based on internal analysis and GPS-derived performance estimates, Audi believes it currently possesses the fourth-best chassis on the Formula 1 grid.
According to those evaluations, Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren remain ahead, while Red Bull is currently considered to have a stronger power unit but not necessarily a superior overall chassis package. Mattia Binotto expressed particular satisfaction with the progress made on the chassis side of the project.
“I am very pleased with the chassis, I have to say. This conclusion is based not only on discussions with our drivers but also on GPS telemetry analysis. First of all, we achieved strong correlation between the wind tunnel and the simulator. From an engineering perspective, that was the most important aspect of the platform. We have taken a step forward in our processes and methodologies.”
He added that the R26’s cornering performance is one of its greatest strengths: “I think our car is genuinely very strong through the corners. We even believe we are the fourth-best team in terms of chassis performance, which is an exceptional achievement considering the project started from the former Sauber team. It demonstrates the positive momentum we currently have in Hinwil in terms of organization, personnel and development. I can also see it in the work we are producing in the wind tunnel for future upgrades.”
The engine remains Audi’s biggest challenge
While the chassis has exceeded expectations, Mattia Binotto acknowledged that substantial work remains on the power unit side of the project.
The Italian engineer explained that closing the performance gap to rival manufacturers will require significant changes rather than incremental updates.
Unlike aerodynamic development, where gains can often be introduced more quickly, power unit development follows a much longer timeline.
“We believe a significant step is required in that area to close the gap. Engine development times are much longer than aerodynamic development. That is why I say the next major step cannot be a small one. We will need to change engine hardware.”
Mattia Binotto admitted that matching the performance of rival manufacturers by 2027 is not considered realistic. Instead, Audi’s target is to bring its power unit to a competitive level by 2028: “To improve the current engine and bring it to the level of our competitors, we believe it is not possible to achieve that by 2027. However, we do believe we can reach the appropriate level by 2028.”
Those comments provide one of the clearest indications yet of Audi’s long-term Formula 1 strategy. While the German manufacturer believes it already possesses a surprisingly competitive chassis platform, the team recognizes that sustained success will depend on closing the remaining power unit deficit and continuing the gradual transformation into a genuine championship contender.
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