As Sauber enters its final season in Formula 1 before fully transitioning into the Audi F1 works team in 2026, the process has proven to be anything but smooth.
Sky F1’s David Croft has highlighted the challenges faced by the team, including significant personnel shake-ups and structural difficulties.
A lengthy and complicated transition
Audi’s acquisition of Sauber was first announced in 2022, setting the stage for the German manufacturer’s full entry into Formula 1. However, the transition has been drawn out and complicated by significant leadership changes.
Initially, Andreas Seidl was appointed as CEO of Sauber Motorsport, before later being named CEO of Audi’s Formula 1 operations. However, just four months later, Audi revealed that Seidl would be leaving the team. Reports suggested internal clashes with Oliver Hoffmann, the former head of development at Audi, led to a power struggle.
Rumours circulated about a “constant battle between Hoffmann and Seidl,” which ultimately resulted in both men departing from the project.
To steady the ship, Audi brought in former Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto, who took on a dual role as chief operating officer and chief technical officer.
Under Binotto’s leadership, the team secured Red Bull’s long-serving sporting director Jonathan Wheatley as team principal. However, Wheatley is not expected to start his role until July at the latest. This leaves the team without a principal until April.
These leadership shifts have fueled concerns about the stability of the project, with Croft commenting that the transition “isn’t going particularly smoothly.”
Location challenges and workforce concerns
Another issue facing Audi’s F1 venture is the location of its operations. The team’s Hinwil base in Switzerland, while home to state-of-the-art facilities, presents recruitment challenges due to the country’s high cost of living.
“One of the problems that the Audi project has is the location,” Croft noted. “Hinwil, as spectacular as Switzerland is, is not a great place to attract staff to. Switzerland is expensive, and you’re uprooting people.”
To address these concerns, Audi recently announced plans to establish a UK base. However, Croft expressed surprise that such a move had not been initiated earlier.
“I am surprised that didn’t happen two years ago. Surprised it wasn’t on the radar. Persuading people to move to Switzerland, to uproot their families, is not an easy thing to do. Getting the right people in is half the battle.”
In recognition of the higher operating costs in Switzerland, Formula 1 authorities have granted Audi certain financial allowances under the budget cap. FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis explained the reasoning behind the decision.
“We felt that a team based in a high labour cost country like Switzerland would end up having approximately 30% or even 40% fewer people working on the car, which we felt was fundamentally unfair,” said Tombazis. “We’ve decided that this could either lead to us trying to take some protections from a regulatory point, or it would eventually mean that teams could not operate, and a team like Sauber would have to basically close and move to another country, which we don’t think is the right way for the world championship to operate.”
High expectations and the road ahead
Audi’s arrival in F1 comes with significant expectations. There is pressure on the team to avoid struggling at the back of the grid. The team’s 2025 driver lineup is set to include Nico Hülkenberg, who Croft believes will be a key asset.
“Hülkenberg? I hope his experience and ability to develop a car will be a massive asset to that team.”
Additionally, young Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto has been brought in, a move that Croft believes will benefit the team.
“Gabriel Bortoleto is a good choice alongside him. He’s a fine driver who will attract sponsorship from Brazil.”
As Audi continues its journey toward 2026, the team faces the challenge of building a competitive package while ensuring the transition remains as seamless as possible. With a new leadership team in place and a UK base in the works, the coming years will be crucial in determining whether Audi can establish itself as a force to be reckoned with in Formula 1.
Feature Image Credit: @audiofficial | X
