Off-track developments key to Audi's Fl journey

German carmaker's Formula One project chief stresses it will take time for the venture to yield visible results

- Sarah Koh

For a sport that is so centred on doing things fast, the head of the Formula One (F1) project at German carmaker Audi seems focused on taking time.

Come 2026, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber will be renamed Revolut Audi F1 Team, and the team's chief operating officer and chief technical officer, Mr Mattia Binotto, has to see that the transition from an independent racing team to one that is part of a global car company works out.

Speaking to the media during the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix held on Oct 5, Mr Binotto said the staff strength dedicated to this endeavour has more than doubled after Audi announced its intentions to take over Sauber’s business from 600 people before 2022 to around 1,500 today.

The operation spans three countries. The power unit is developed and built in Neuburg an der Donau, Germany. Development of the race car, planning and operations are housed in Hinwil, Switzerland, where Sauber is based.

A new technology centre in Bicester Motion, Britain, was launched in July, offering the team strategic access to a pool of engineering talent and industry suppliers.

However, such investments might not immediately equate to on-track results, said Mr Binotto, who added that creating a solid foundation is important.