Mattia Binotto: The problem with starts won't be solved quickly.

      In the first round of the Japanese Grand Prix, Gabriel Bortoleto lost four positions, and Nico Hülkenberg lost six. Audi team principal Mattia Binotto acknowledged that the team has problems with starts related to the characteristics of the power unit and added that there is no quick solution to the issue.

      Mattia Binotto: "In Japan, we had a poor start, and this is not the first time. So, without a doubt, starts are not one of our strong points. At the moment, the problem is not resolved because it is not so easy to fix. On the other hand, we know that this is a top priority for us. We had a good qualifying session, but there is no point in starting from high positions if we lose them at the start.

      The gap from the leading teams is related to the power unit. But we knew that this would be the biggest problem. We have a plan to address the issue, but refining the engine, especially when it comes to certain concepts, can take a long time. It is no coincidence that we set ourselves the goal of fighting for the title only in 2030. We simply know that it will take a lot of time, so we need to be patient right now.

      We are very ambitious and would like to solve the problems in a few races, but sometimes that is impossible. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly understand the positions of the team, what our plans are, and what we need to stick to.

      Miracles are impossible, and we are not here to create them. We are in Formula 1 to have clear plans for solving problems and improving results in the future, and that is already an achievable goal."