Earlier this week, Audi announced that former Ferrari team manager Mattia Binotto will join the team as the sole leader of their F1 effort, effectively replacing both team CEO Andrea Seidl and chairman Oliver Hoffmann.
As the team gears up for its imminent takeover of the Sauber team, rumours emerged over the reality of the advancement of their work on their power unit. The team dismissed any rumours repeatedly, affirming their commitment to their F1 project.
The decision to hire Binotto in a leadership position raised eyebrows considering his exit after a disastrous 2022 season with Ferrari, where the team was criticised for multiple blunders in strategy and development.
Nonetheless, Binotto was part of the Ferrari dream team, winning five straight Drivers’ Championship with Michael Schumacher from 2000-2004.
When asked about the motivation behind this change in structure, Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi explained that was made to bring their plans and their decision-making “up to F1 speed”, alongside Binotto’s extensive technical knowledge, saying: “As you know, I think that as a part of the complete takeover by Audi AG of all the shares in the Sauber Group, there has been a realignment of the control structures, aiming at redefined responsibilities, to have an efficient decision-making process with a clear management structure.
“In order to reach this goal, there has been also a new leadership team that has been put in place with Mattia Binotto, that has been appointed as a CTO and COO, reporting directly to the Audi AG CEO, Gernot Döllner. So I think that this is a very important, again, proof of the commitment of Audi into the F1 project.
“Mattia has a proven track record. He has a vast experience, more than 25 years in Formula 1, having led important project, first as an engine a leader of the engine department at Ferrari, then of course overviewing the technical department until his appointment as a team principal in 2019.
“So I think that is an important decision that give again the sign of the Audi commitment and that should help the team to bring our team up to the F1 speed in terms of decision process, in terms of leadership, and I think it is an important and good move for all our team.”
When asked on what he expects Binotto to bring to the team, he affirmed the team’s support for his leadership and the work he has done previously on the technical side, adding: “Every person has a different approach. It’s not a matter of just the profile, the background, the personality, of course.
“I know Mattia from many years, thanks to the partnership we had when Fred was our team principal at Sauber and the relationship with Ferrari.
“I think he’s very competent with a very proven background. And I think that he has a vast competence, especially in the technical matters.
“The message is clear. He will be leading Sauber Motorsport. He will have a full responsibility and accountability for the sporting success of the Audi factory team. I think he has all the characteristics in order to reach this goal and guide our structure towards 2026 and onwards.”
