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Mattia Binotto Lays Bare the Challenges Facing Sauber/Audi as He Revamps the Struggling F1 Team

Redação by Redação
December 23, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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Mattia Binotto Lays Bare the Challenges Facing Sauber/Audi as He Revamps the Struggling F1 Team

Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - December 1, 2024 Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. shakes hands with Sauber chief technical officer Mattia Binotto ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki

Mattia Binotto’s return to Formula 1 with Sauber/Audi marks a pivotal chapter for the team as it transitions into Audi’s full factory effort in 2026. But the former Ferrari boss has made no secret of the uphill battle he faces, taking over a team that finished dead last in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship with just four points to their name.


A Team Frozen in Time

Binotto, who stepped into his dual role as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer in August 2024, has been vocal about the state of disarray he inherited. Speaking to Motorsport.com, Binotto revealed that the team was solely focused on the 2026 regulations and Audi’s formal entry, leaving the present neglected.

“When I came in there was not only zero points, but really even no plans nor developments,” Binotto said. “Everything was only focused on ’26, but that was for me somehow a problem because I think that a team needs always to fight on track.”

For Binotto, abandoning competitiveness on the current grid was a grave misstep. He stressed the importance of racing as a barometer for evaluating progress and identifying areas of improvement.


Lessons from 2024

Sauber’s four points—courtesy of Zhou Guanyu’s eighth-place finish at the Qatar Grand Prix—may seem insignificant, but Binotto viewed them as a crucial turning point.

“It’s only by fighting, competing on track, that you can understand how good you’re doing and if whatever you’re doing is going the right direction,” Binotto explained. “Finishing 10th with zero or 10th with four points does not change much, but it’s more about defining the proper direction for development and energizing the team for next season.”

Under Binotto’s leadership, the team has begun reshaping its 2025 campaign, aiming to establish a solid foundation and regain competitiveness while continuing preparations for 2026.


The Path to Revival

Binotto admits the 2024 campaign was disappointing but takes solace in setting a clear roadmap for the future. The team’s renewed focus includes bolstering the car’s development trajectory and ensuring that Sauber/Audi enters 2025 with a sense of momentum.

“Today, I can see a team that is more convinced on what’s required, what’s necessary for next season,” Binotto said. “Hopefully, we can further develop the current car and move in the right direction.”

The Swiss-based team must now balance improving on-track performance with preparing for the major regulatory overhaul and Audi’s power unit debut in 2026.


Financial Woes and Corporate Restructuring

Adding to the challenge are financial struggles at parent company Volkswagen, which have cast a shadow over Audi’s F1 aspirations. These financial difficulties prompted the sale of a stake in Audi’s F1 project to Qatar’s investment authority, ensuring the team has the resources to stay on track.


Binotto’s Vision

While the transition to 2026 remains a long-term goal, Binotto’s immediate priority is revitalizing Sauber’s culture and competitiveness. His strategy emphasizes a dual focus: achieving incremental progress in 2025 while laying the groundwork for a top-tier challenge under Audi’s full banner.

“A team needs to fight on track to understand performance, strengths, and weaknesses. That’s the real know-how of a team,” Binotto asserted.

With his wealth of experience and an unyielding focus on development, Binotto aims to steer Sauber/Audi out of its slump and into a brighter, more competitive future. Will his leadership be enough to transform the team into a frontrunner by 2026? Time will tell.

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