Mattia Binotto: The attention from Audi F1 flatters us.

      Before the summer break, Carlos Sainz hinted that he plans not only to relax but also to work on future plans, and we quoted his words: “I plan to make some decisions, but of course, I need to weigh everything calmly.”

      It is implied that this concerns the prospects of his further cooperation with Williams, as the British team's situation in 2026 is clearly worse than expected. There are rumors about Carlos's interest in Audi, and although this is currently nothing more than speculation, it can be said that they flatter Mattia Binotto, the head of the German company's factory project in Formula 1.

      At its core is the Swiss team Sauber, but this chapter of its history, which lasted nearly three and a half decades, is in the past, and now it is the Audi F1 Team.

      “If people are interested in our team, at least it means that regardless of our current results, they take the team seriously,” Binotto shared in an interview with PlanenF1. “People see that this is an ambitious project that is developing in the right direction, and we have a clear goal ahead of us.

      Perhaps if we had gone off track, for example, due to some wrong decisions, we would hardly be of interest to anyone. But we observe a different picture, as attention is focused on both our drivers and our partners, etc. This means that the team's affairs are going well, and all of this flatters us.”

      Undoubtedly, not everything went smoothly in the first half of the season, as there were reliability issues, and the Audi drivers did not always start as they should, but against the backdrop of inevitable difficulties, Binotto spoke very highly of the contributions of Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto to the common cause:

      “We have two very strong drivers. When talking about our team lineup, it is often emphasized that we have one rookie and one experienced driver. But personally, I define them differently: we have two very fast drivers, and that’s great.

      I think there’s no need to remind that Nico has been fast and consistent throughout his career, and on Sundays he confidently demonstrates all of this on the racetracks. And Gabriel is performing better and better; in his case, time is a very important factor, and gradually he is gaining experience, and he definitely has potential.

      This is his second season in Formula 1, and we already see that when Friday practice starts, he quickly gains speed and approaches the limits of the car's capabilities, whereas this process used to take more time. He is constantly learning, progressing, gaining more experience, and I have no doubt that in the future, his talent will become an important advantage for him.”

      After Jonathan Wheatley's departure, Alan McNish became the effective team leader of Audi, taking on the role of racing director, and Binotto believes that the Scottish driver’s experience gained over years of a long professional career in motorsport helps him:

      “Alan is doing great, and he has extensive experience, having worked with Audi for many years. He is a former driver, so he understands perfectly what Nico and Gabriel are talking about – he is perfect for this role. Alan is characterized by an energetic approach to work, and I must admit that when I compare him to myself, I am surprised where he gets so much energy from?

      Overall, I believe that our affairs are going excellently, and it is pleasing that Alan has easily integrated into our team, and we did not feel at all that the team management process was interrupted in any way.”