2026 is approaching faster than it seems, especially for Sauber, which will officially become Audi’s works team next season. However, as Mattia Binotto, head of the project, explained, 2026 is just the entry year—Audi’s true goal is to turn Sauber into a winning team by 2030.
This is an enormous challenge, which Binotto compared to climbing Everest. The team must grow in several areas, not just in personnel but also in infrastructure. Currently, Sauber has about 400 fewer employees than some rivals. While it’s not the smallest team in F1, it must reach the level of top teams to achieve sustained success.
One major obstacle is the higher cost of living in Switzerland compared to other F1 team locations. This has made it difficult for Sauber to attract new staff. The challenge is twofold: convincing engineers to relocate to Switzerland and reaching an economically viable agreement for both sides.
Behind the scenes, Audi has pushed for an adjustment to the budget cap to account for Switzerland’s labor costs, which can be 30% higher than in the UK. However, British-based teams opposed any regulatory changes.
If Sauber had the same workforce as its competitors but higher costs, it would have fewer resources for car development. Conversely, it could invest more in the car but with a smaller team.
The UK Base as a Fast-Track for Growth
Rival teams argue that every squad chooses its own location and that costs vary even within the UK. Realistically, Sauber cannot move entirely from Hinwil, where it has essential facilities, including a wind tunnel.
The solution was to open a UK branch in Motorsport Valley, home to seven other F1 teams with British operations. While the exact site is undecided, Bicester, Silverstone, and Milton Keynes are under consideration, with plans to open by summer 2025.
This move would allow Sauber to attract engineers without requiring them to relocate abroad while benefiting from lower labor costs than in Switzerland. The UK office would become Sauber’s third technical hub, alongside Hinwil and Audi’s Neuburg facility, where the power unit is developed.
A three-site setup is complex but necessary for rapid growth. When Sauber operated under its own funding, there was no need for a UK base, as Hinwil had sufficient resources.
This situation differs from Racing Bulls, which has its main base in Faenza but maintains a UK branch. The Italian team has a close relationship with Red Bull and, in recent years, has used Bedford’s wind tunnel instead of Bicester’s. That connection is growing even stronger, with Racing Bulls gradually relocating to Milton Keynes.
With Audi’s arrival, Sauber’s goals and resources have changed. Attracting top engineers requires an alternative approach, both logistically and financially. A UK base should ease recruitment, though competition is fierce in that region.
Seamless Integration Will Be Key
Operating a UK hub presents challenges. Haas is the only other team with three locations, but its U.S. site is primarily for corporate functions, while Banbury and Maranello handle operations and design.
Sauber’s structure could be even more complex. Haas, for instance, relies on Ferrari’s facilities, such as its wind tunnel. However, Haas personnel must travel from Banbury to Italy for simulator work, though this is a minor issue given their limited Ferrari simulator time. Haas is now building a UK facility to reduce this reliance.
Sauber’s situation differs because its UK base will function as a secondary hub without exclusive facilities, which will remain in Switzerland.
For this setup to work, seamless integration across three locations is essential. Alpine has struggled with coordination between its Enstone (chassis) and Viry (engine) sites, with multiple team principals emphasizing the need for better communication to improve performance.
Haas has also faced challenges integrating Banbury and Maranello operations. Team principal Ayao Komatsu has highlighted recent improvements in communication, which have led to more efficient development and better team cohesion.
For Sauber, opening a UK base is a major opportunity to expand by attracting engineers and reaching top-team levels. However, ensuring smooth collaboration between three tightly connected sites will be crucial to making this structure work effectively.
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