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Audi have repeatedly stated that they are targeting a Formula 1 world championship by 2030. But based on comments made at their 2026 launch, they are not so optimistic about their immediate prospects.
Audi haven’t had to build their F1 team from scratch. Instead, they acquired Sauber, who took part in over 500 races and scored 28 podiums.
But Audi have built their own power unit, rather than maintaining Sauber’s relationship with Ferrari. That engine made its debut at a shakedown in Barcelona earlier this month.
Instant reaction to Audi’s first livery?
The first reports suggested that Audi completed their shakedown without issue, but F1 team boss Mattia Binotto has now revealed the truth.
Mattia Binotto’s frank admission about Audi’s Formula 1 shakedown
Binotto acknowledged that Audi faced significant ‘problems’ on day one, even if he tried to spin them into a positive.
Just days before the start of pre-season testing and six weeks before the Australian Grand Prix, the Italian admits his team are not ‘ready’.
One comfort for Audi may be that established manufacturers like Honda are having problems too, both in terms of performance and reliability.
Can Audi go all the way by 2030? 🏆
“We are not ready, we are still facing problems, we are still not at the level of performance we would be,” Binotto told F1’s official website. “Our power train and power unit are not yet driveable as they should be but that’s all normal.
“It’s not unexpected so I can say even the filming day maybe was not a successful day. But it was a positive one because we face problems, but those problems were useful for us to further learn and further prepare for the start of the season and the next test at the end of the month in Barcelona.”
Audi are one of the only F1 teams whose 2026 car isn’t overweight
In brighter news for Audi fans, journalist Mark Hughes has relayed a rumour that they are one of only two teams on the weight limit as it stands. Alpine, who finished bottom of the standings last year and are integrating a Mercedes power unit for the first time, are the other.
Hughes says this may have been achieved through designing a physically smaller car. This was the approach taken by forerunners Sauber following the 2022 regulation changes.
Still, reducing a car’s weight theoretically offers free lap time. Sauber finished sixth in the 2022 standings with 55 points, a result that would delight Audi.
Before they’ve even started a race, Audi are already in dispute with Mercedes and Red Bull. They’re calling for an FIA clampdown on their rivals’ alleged fuel compression tricks.
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