Sauber chief’s latest comments suggest Audi could be F1’s surprise 2026 title contenders after McLaren comparison

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Sauber technical director James Key has an impressive CV, having spent decades working in Formula 1.

Before joining Sauber in 2023, James Key had worked for the likes of Jordan, Force India, Toro Rosso and McLaren.

He was Takuma Sato’s race engineer and became the youngest technical director in the paddock in 2005 when he worked for Midland F1 before their transformation into Force India.

Key was part of the triumvirate of directors who worked under Andreas Seidl at McLaren that included now team principal Andrea Stella.

However, Key was sacked by McLaren in 2023 and returned to Sauber, although Key would be working for the newly-named Alfa Romeo, with Seidl once again at the helm ahead of Audi’s takeover.

The Audi project is now under the management of Mattia Binotto, with Jonathan Wheatley appointed as team principal, and the progress they’ve made this season has been staggering.

Sauber looked like the slowest team in the paddock during pre-season testing, but currently sit seventh in the constructors’ championship.

Key now believes Sauber are ahead of every team he’s ever worked for in one area, including runaway leaders McLaren, which will give Audi hope for their F1 debut next season.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Sauber from team principal to 2026 Audi future

Sauber ‘second to none’ in weight management ahead of 2026 Audi takeover

Key was speaking to the German outlet Auto Motor und Sport during the 2025 summer break.

After more than three decades in F1 under various guises, the team will officially become a works team in 2026.

There were suggestions last year that Audi’s power unit was looking good, and in Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, they’ve got two high-performing drivers.

Talking about next season, Key said: “2026 is the biggest rule change ever.

“Everything will be different. For us, there’s even more to come. We’ll be a works team with a new identity. Audi is entering this championship with a lot of commitment, attention, and trust in this team.

“That’s fantastic for us, but also a responsibility.

“This team has several areas where they’re brilliant. One is weight management. It’s second to none. I haven’t seen anything like it from any other team.

“The engine department in Neuburg and the chassis department in Hinwil work very closely together in a friendly atmosphere.

“It helps when you have the opportunity to resolve things quickly. All joint decisions are made based on performance. It’s a completely different world.”

READ MORE: Who is Sauber and Audi F1 chief Mattia Binotto? Everything to know

Audi could have an ace up their sleeve in the 2026 Formula 1 constructors’ championship

Very few people would back Audi to have a chance of winning the championship next season, given their relative lack of experience and the base they’re starting from.

However, Audi have known for some time that they would only enter the sport in 2026, and have been working on certain aspects of their car for far longer than their rivals.

The report from AMuS suggests they’ve been working on their new car ‘since the end of 2023’, and at times this season, the focus was ‘almost 100% on the 2026 project’.

Sauber have been one of the most efficient teams in terms of weight management for years, and many critics of the new rules have suggested that if one team can get down to the new weight limit, they will have a huge advantage over their rivals.

Until the cars hit the track during pre-season testing, no one will know who the team to beat is for the upcoming F1 regulation changes.

However, Audi are making themselves an interesting outside shout for fans looking beyond the traditional powers.