Audi is exploring a comprehensive redesign of its Formula 1 power unit for 2027 or 2028 after identifying significant performance gaps in its debut season that extend far beyond raw horsepower. Despite a promising start to its F1 journey with Gabriel Bortoleto scoring points on debut in Australia, the German manufacturer faces a substantial 1.5-second deficit to pace-setting Mercedes, with most of that gap attributed to engine-related issues.
Speaking exclusively to The Race, Audi F1 project leader Mattia Binotto revealed that the team’s challenges encompass multiple areas of power unit performance. “It is a combination of power, energy deployment, how efficient you are and driveability,” Binotto explained, emphasizing that the deficit cannot be reduced to a simple horsepower shortfall. The team has identified harsh gear changes as a particular problem, affecting both braking stability and acceleration performance while making car balance optimization significantly more difficult.
The complexity of Audi’s current predicament extends to fundamental hardware limitations that cannot be addressed through software updates alone. Poor race starts throughout the season are believed to stem from the team running what sources suggest is the grid’s largest turbocharger, a design choice that requires fundamental mechanical changes rather than quick fixes. While some improvements can be achieved through enhanced harvesting and energy deployment strategies, Binotto acknowledged that comprehensive progress demands more radical intervention.
The proposed engine concept represents a strategic pivot as Audi pursues its stated goal of championship contention by the decade’s end. Binotto noted that achieving this ambitious target would likely require “a bold step change” rather than incremental improvements. The team views this potential redesign as essential to closing the performance gap that currently separates it from the sport’s leading manufacturers, particularly in the critical areas of driveability and energy management that define modern F1 power unit competitiveness.