Mattia Binotto talks about signing with Sauber/Audi for his F1 return plus adds on his work, drivers, with Gernot Dollner adds his view on changes.
Over the weekend at Monza for the Italian GP, new Sauber/Audi CEO/COO Binotto was spotted for the first time in the new colours. He was joined by Audi CEO Dollner when the briefed the media about the progress the German outfit is making towards F1 2026.
It was the return of Binotto in an active role in the F1 paddock, as he relayed why he decided to join Audi out of all the offers. He noted about the seriousness and history of the German manufacturer in motor racing which pulled him into the job.
Also, the role suited him well considering what he was doing at Ferrari. While his work is mostly at the factory, Binotto will have to do the extra work on the racing team side until Jonathan Wheatley arrives to take on the F1 team principal role from July 2025.
In terms of decision making, Binotto and Wheatley will certainly play a key role, but Dollner noted that he is not afraid to take decisions either. The driver decision is one the biggest that they have to collectively, as to who will partner Nico Hulkenberg.
Along with names like Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, they do have Theo Pourchaire in their ranks, while McLaren junior Gabrial Bortoleto has emerged as a contender too. But no decision has been taken as yet, as Binotto suggested.
The Italian, though, is not pleased with the results of Sauber team as they sit where they are last in the standings and with no points in their kitty. The performance has dipped in recent times, where they haven’t looked like to score points at all.
Hiring Binotto, Wheatley –
Dollner: “First of all, Audi has a long-term commitment to Formula One. The supervisory boards of Volkswagen AG and Audi took the decision to completely get control of the Sauber shares. And so we will be, as of first of 2025, 100% charge of Sauber in the quarter one in 2025. That will happen. And myself being now chairman of the board of directors of Sauber Motorsport AG means that I also will personally involve myself into our Formula One project more intensively. We started by the end of July to realign our management structure with clear responsibilities. And I’m really happy that we found a strong management for our Formula One project with Mattia Binotto, who will be in lead for all the operations in Hinwill as COO and CTO. And as latest, first of July next year with Jonathan Wheatley, who will be team principal and taking care of all the racing operations on track. And with this, we believe, very future-oriented setup with a strong dual leadership team. One taking care of the operations on corporate with a project in the car and the other one handling our operations on the racetrack. And being the spokesperson, we believe that we found a perfect solution for our future operations.”
Why Audi –
Binotto: “I’m really thankful for the opportunity. I think that it’s a great challenge. It’s a great ambition. It’s very fascinating. I’m pretty sure, it’s today the most fascinating challenge in F1 for such a brand like Audi joining F1 with both chassis and power unit, a long-term project. So certainly I’ve been very, I would say, happy and fascinated by it, but thankful for the opportunity. I think that Audi really was the only team I would have hoped to join after so many years, 28 years of Ferrari, because of what it represents, not only the challenge but the brand itself. Audi has participated in many motorsport categories, winning all of them. Presently with Dakar, but we all know Ferrari here. And I think that now by joining Formula One is the biggest, let me say, the pinnacle of the motorsports. It’s the biggest ambition, the biggest challenge for them, but the biggest challenge as well for us as a team. So I’m thankful to that. I always say that when I graduated 30 years ago, that was my very first letter of application. And finally thanks to the board, to the support of the board and the CEO of Audi. I got finally my feedback and my answer, so I’m thankful. We know that in Switzerland sometimes it may take time, but they’re getting there. Now, I’ve been convinced by the project. I’ve been convinced by the people.
“I’ve been convinced by the resources it got available. And I’ve been convinced by the board and the commission. Because I know that there is the support of the full brand and the full corporate. And that was for me the most important. It took a couple of days for the call and to decide. That’s really a matter of fact. No discussion, because I think when you go to the elements in there, there is no discussion which is needed. And it does not really take long. It was really an immediate decision. As you said, it’s a couple of weeks now, really, that I’m there due to the summer break starting from the 1st of August. In a couple of weeks, you cannot see a result. You’ve got only a first impression of what you may find or see, both in Hinwil for the chassis or in Neuburg for the powertrain. And again, I think great people. We’ve got a clear intention, objectives ahead of us to become a winning team. But certainly there is much to do. I think that’s the first feedback. We are competing against teams like ours. Since many years in Formula 1, the big organisations settled down. It’s not our case. We need to ramp up in terms of people, in terms of organisation, in terms of tools, process, methodologies, facilities. We need to merge certainly what we are doing in Hinwil together with what we are doing in Neuburg on the powertrain. And it’s about, as well, culture and mindset. Because to become a winning team, it’s about changing our mindset towards what is required. And there are great people there. I think that it’s a real business transformation.
“And we know how long it may take a business transformation. I think that’s the passion that will be required for our near future. Something we discussed and we agreed. If we look back at other teams having opened a winning cycle, it took always several years before to become the winning team for an entire cycle. So it has been the case of, I know it perfectly myself, of Ferrari. I joined myself in 1995, Jean Todt since 1993, but the first constructor was in 1999. But after, as well, it has been the case for Red Bull or Mercedes. It took always several years. And I think that’s what we are facing now. We know that we are starting from a small entity. We need a clear business transformation from the culture and mindset point of view. But in all the aspects. And we need to simply, step by step, move, taking the right decisions, looking for the right solutions. And having a clear objective ahead of us in a few years’ time. To become a winning team and a benchmark for Formula 1. And as I said, there is the full support. I’m pretty convinced, I’ve been convinced by the project. I’m fully convinced that it’s in our hands.”
Driver situation, who all in –
Binotto: “As I said, it’s a couple of weeks I’m there. So, it’s really for me and not only for myself. Because we are certainly sharing all my first impressions and what are the next steps. It’s certainly something that we need to judge. So, are we going for experience or for something new? As I said, it’s a project which is looking to a medium-long-term objective. Or even long-term objective. So, what’s the best for us from now to the final goal? Is it more having short-term experience and then moving to something different? We need to decide. And today I don’t think we are not in the position to answer. We are certainly listening to all potential drivers. We are certainly evaluating what’s the pro and the cons, what’s the best compromise. As a matter of fact, at the end, it’s a choice which you put on the balance all the aspects. I think we will decide as soon as possible. No doubt, because we need to set up the team for next year and for the future.
“We need to, as well, to stop any speculations because it’s not in our interest. But so far, no decision, as well on what will be best. I think it’s really type of evaluations we are doing right now. And hopefully, very soon, we’ll be coming to a conclusion. As first, Theo is our driver today. So, somehow, he’s already part of the family. And no doubt, he’s in our list. Gabriel is doing very well today in F2. I think he’s a great talent. And certainly, we are looking at what he’s doing. As we are looking to many others. I don’t see that as the only name on which we are focusing our attention. So, there are many names in the list. Great potential, great expertise, great experience. Again, it’s a matter of, we need to judge what’s most important for us in the short, medium, long term. And I would say for a clear plan, which today, I do not have really an answer for you.”
Role until Wheatley joins, decision making –
Binotto: “I think there are no secrets. We need to bridge from now to maybe July next year. Certainly, what will become Jonathan’s responsibilities for racing activities, the race track is something which I was used to doing in the past. I will certainly organize myself with an extra effort. I will try to cover it in the meantime. But we will as well organize ourselves and the race tracks in a way that there will be some responsibility which we support. Maybe myself not being present at all races, certainly not. Because the focus is, at the moment, I am priority back at the factories, where I think we need to tackle the most.”
Dollner: “First, we have a clear structure with clear responsibilities. And we believe that Mattia and Jonathan will be the perfect team to take the decisions. We have our supervisory board of directors Jurgen Rittersberger and myself are involved. And if there would be a last decision needed, we will take it, I will take it. I don’t see the necessity to do so. More to organize the perfect link between corporate Audi and our Formula 1 project. And, of course, we discuss important things such as drivers together and come to a shared conclusion there.”
Results not well for Sauber now –
Binotto: “Certainly not. We cannot afford it. I think this is the team that has to become, in the future, the winning team. And the only way to do that is starting, moving up, progressing. We need to train our muscles for the future. So, yes, I think we need certainly to improve. That’s important for ourselves. That’s important for the team. It’s important for the brand. It’s important for our partners. And we cannot not somehow accept the current position. But that’s a matter of fact where we are. And we cannot even not hide behind the figure. We have been last and second last in Zandvoort. In Monza, we were quite in the same positions, some distance to the higher end. So, we need to put effort in improving since the very immediate terms. We need to balance all the priorities and our efforts from the short to the medium and the long term. But I don’t think our position today is a comfortable one for us at all. It’s very painful. And we need to, as I said, we need to train our muscles and we need to improve because the solid foundations do not come in one day. It’s a team that needs to do continuous progress each single day, step by step. So, starting from as soon as possible.”
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