Binotto states that there is no longer any doubt about Audi's commitment to Formula 1.

      Mattia Binotto appears ready to witness the neon green and black Sauber cars at the back of the Formula 1 grid again in 2025. This season marks the final one before the fully Audi-owned Swiss team completes its transition to become the official Audi team starting in 2026 and onward.

      "We are at the beginning of the journey to transform Sauber into the Audi Formula 1 team and ultimately into a top team," said Binotto, who rejoined F1 last year after stepping down as Ferrari team principal in 2022. He is overseeing the transition from Sauber to Audi, expressing to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport that the aim is to "compete for the world championship in 2030."

      "We have five seasons ahead of us until then," he noted. "The first three will focus on building the team, while the subsequent two will be aimed at consolidating and refining processes to meet our objectives. You cannot achieve this transformation in just one season or a few months. Where do we stand? The team has not yet reached our desired level, neither in terms of personnel nor tools. However, we can see the necessary growth."

      Consequently, the goal for 2025 is to continue making progress toward the future, such as increasing the staff by an additional 200 individuals and establishing a new secondary facility in the UK. Binotto acknowledges that this year's results are not a major priority.

      "We are in a different position compared to others," he stated. "We need to improve as a team. Our project must be credible and appealing. This will make it easier to attract new personnel and sponsors and keep our existing team motivated."

      Regarding the 2025 car, Binotto simply desires evidence "that we have learned and understood" the lessons from the previous season. "We cannot wait until 2026 to demonstrate this," he added. "Thus, for me, 2025 is a significant season. We are looking forward to a strong start, which will allow us to concentrate on 2026 as soon as possible. There may be multiple upgrades, but not too many."

      Binotto also hopes that the long-standing belief that Audi and Volkswagen might regret their entry into Formula 1 fades away by 2025. "Audi is fully committed, and I don’t think anyone questions that anymore," he remarked. "The involvement of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund in the project sends a vital message. It also indicates internally that Audi is making a long-term commitment."

      For 2026, Audi plans to provide engines solely for its own works team, but Binotto emphasizes the necessity of forming political alliances within the pit lane, following the examples set by rival teams. "That’s a good point," he acknowledged. "Some teams are not part of any alliance, and it would be beneficial for those teams to form one."