Mar.7 (GMM) Mattia Binotto appears ready to see the neon inexperienced and black Sauber vehicles as soon as once more on the very rear of the Components 1 grid in 2025.
This season is the final one earlier than the now totally Audi-owned, Swiss-based group completes its transition to develop into the works Audi outfit from 2026 and past.
“We’re firstly of the journey to rework Sauber into the Audi Components 1 group and in the end right into a high group,” the Italian, who returned to F1 final yr after dropping his position as Ferrari group principal in 2022, stated.
Binotto is overseeing the Sauber-to-Audi transition, as he tells Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport that the aim is to “struggle for the world championship in 2030”.
“We have now 5 seasons forward of us till then,” he defined. “Of those 5 years, the primary three will likely be used to construct the group and the subsequent two to consolidate and fine-tune in order that we are able to obtain our targets.
“You can’t obtain this transformation in a single season or a couple of months. The place are we? The group is just not but the place we wish to be. Neither when it comes to manpower nor instruments. However we see the mandatory development.”
The goal for 2025, subsequently, is just to take extra steps on the street to the long run – for instance by including one other 200 individuals to the workers roster and work on establishing the brand new UK-based secondary facility.
Outcomes this yr, Binotto admits, should not too necessary.
“We’re in a special scenario to the others,” he stated. “We have now to enhance as a group. Our undertaking needs to be credible and enticing. This makes all of it the simpler for us to draw individuals and sponsors and inspire the present group.”
So when it comes to the precise 2025 automobile, all Binotto desires is an indication “that we’ve got realized and understood” the teachings of the earlier season.
“We can’t wait till 2026 to show this,” stated Binotto, “so for me, 2025 is a vital season.
“We hope for a very good begin to the season, which can then permit us to concentrate on 2026 as early as doable. There may be a couple of improve, however there is not going to be many.”
Binotto additionally admits to hoping that the outdated notion that Audi and Volkswagen could also be regretting the choice to enter Components 1 disappears in 2025.
“Audi is totally behind it and I don’t assume anybody doubts that anymore,” he stated. “The truth that Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is concerned within the undertaking was an necessary message. It additionally sends the message internally that it is a long-term dedication from Audi.”
For 2026, Audi intends to solely provide its personal works group with engines, however Binotto says it’ll a minimum of be necessary to comply with the lead of rival groups by forming political alliances inside pitlane.
“That’s a very good level,” he stated. “There are a couple of groups that aren’t in any alliance. It might be good if these groups fashioned one.”
