How Audi pulled out of Formula 1, and then changed its mind.
Next year Audi will field a factory team in Formula 1, which is currently being actively built on the basis of Sauber. Audi's chairman of the supervisory board, Gernot Döllner, admitted that he was initially cool to the idea but later appreciated its prospects.
Gernot Döllner: "At first I was skeptical about Formula 1, but when I joined Audi and the first details were settled, we had time to really analyze our position. And the team convinced me that Formula 1 is the right direction.
There are two paths in Formula 1: either you do everything right, or you end up behind. So we decided to speed up the process and take Sauber completely under our control. We brought a Qatari company in as a partner and created a team with Mattia Binotto as project head and Jonathan Whitley as team principal. They are two outstanding specialists in the world of Formula 1.
By the time I arrived, Nico Hülkenberg's candidacy had already been approved, but we showed courage and took a young driver. And I believe that in Gabriel Bortoleto we chose the best rookie, combining outstanding talent with enormous hard work.
Next year Formula 1 will undergo the most extensive regulatory changes in its history. There will be a completely new power unit, completely new rules for the chassis. Right now nobody knows what the pecking order will be, but for us the main result is the construction of the team.
Mattia and Jonathan are doing an excellent job attracting talented specialists, but we still lag behind the top teams in numbers. We currently have about 700 people working for us, while the strongest teams have roughly 1,100. But we are doing everything possible to make this workforce operate efficiently.
We view Formula 1 as an investment in the future. Motorsport and Audi are a perfect combination; it inspires all of us. We have a lot to learn, and not only in terms of technology. But we have already understood that in both Formula 1 and road cars the main thing is efficiency. And we consider this a priority."
Other articles
De la Rosa finds Newey's work ethic to be 'mind-blowing.'
Formula 1 | Pedro de la Rosa states that Adrian Newey's joining Aston Martin is not merely a marketing ploy, affirming that the renowned designer is already enhancing the (…)
Max Verstappen makes his GT3 debut on the Nordschleife.
Max Verstappen announced that he will make his GT3 debut this weekend — on September 27 he will contest a four-hour race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Leclerc questions whether Verstappen can close the gap to the McLarens.
Formula 1 | Charles Leclerc has dismissed claims that Max Verstappen is once again in contention for a fifth consecutive world championship, despite (…)
Team budgets will rise to $215 million.
In 2026, the maximum budget cap for Formula 1 teams will rise from the current $135 million to $215 million.
Why has DRS become less effective?
Mercedes chief engineer Andrew Shovlin on why the DRS system has been performing worse in recent years.
Hamilton needs to 'establish his presence' at Ferrari.
Formula 1 | Ralf Schumacher has issued a new criticism of Lewis Hamilton, cautioning that Ferrari may face a meltdown if the conflicts between the seven-time world champion…
How Audi pulled out of Formula 1, and then changed its mind.
Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Audi, admitted that he had initially reacted coldly to the idea but later saw its potential.