Audi team principal Mattia Binotto has expressed contentment with his squad’s opening performances in the 2026 Formula 1 season, stating he “would have signed for” the team’s current form despite collecting just two points through the first three races. The German manufacturer’s factory F1 operation, which evolved from the Sauber team over the winter period, has consistently threatened to score points in both qualifying and race conditions while developing their own power unit to compete against established engine suppliers Mercedes, Ferrari and Honda.
The transformation to Audi represents the culmination of a strategic partnership that began in 2022 when Sauber was selected as the manufacturer’s chosen route into Formula 1. The Swiss outfit endured challenging seasons in recent years, plummeting to ninth in the constructors’ championship with 16 points in 2023 as Alfa Romeo, before managing only four points the following year – narrowly avoiding a pointless campaign thanks to Zhou Guanyu’s eighth-place finish in Qatar.
A marked improvement came in 2025 when Sauber accumulated 70 points, highlighted by Nico Hulkenberg’s breakthrough maiden podium at the British Grand Prix. This upward trajectory provided a solid foundation for Audi’s takeover, though Binotto acknowledges the team’s current position could have been far worse given the complexities of developing their own power unit from scratch.
“Getting it wrong can be very easy as well. Some teams are on the back[foot],” Binotto explained to F1.com. “There is nothing fundamentally wrong with our car and our project, which is the most important because once you’ve got something which is fundamentally wrong, then you need to catch up and address it. You are spending a lot of energy, time, capacity and budget from the budget cap to address fundamentals.”
The condensed opening flyaway sequence through Australia, China and Japan provided little opportunity for teams to analyze and implement improvements between races. However, the April break has given Audi crucial development time ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, where significant upgrades across the grid are expected to potentially reshape the championship battle according to Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.