Audi CEO Mattia Binotto has set a goal of contending for the Formula 1 championship by 2030 after a strong start for the team’s debut season.
The German automaker assumed Sauber’s seat on the grid for 2026 and, after nine rounds, sits ninth in the standings with six points earned by rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.
Although Bortoleto’s teammate Nico Hulkenberg has yet to score, Audi has remained competitive, qualifying in Q2 at every Grand Prix and advancing to Q3 on three occasions.
These results provide a solid foundation, with the objective of establishing a competitive program ahead of the forthcoming regulation changes scheduled for 2031.
“Our ambition extends well beyond 2026 and 2027,” Binotto told Motorsport. “Our target is 2030: we want to build a team capable of fighting for the world championship,” he added.
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team, Mattia Binotto, Audi F1 Team
Photo by: John Phillips / LAT Images via Getty Images
“We recognize several key milestones on this journey. The first, we anticipate, will be 2028, when we expect to make a further quality leap.”
“Therefore, 2026 and 2027 will primarily serve as development years rather than years of strict performance evaluation.”
“At this stage, my focus is on the growth of the organization. While just over a hundred employees work directly at the track, approximately 1,400 staff are engaged daily on chassis and power‑unit development.”
“People often concentrate on the on‑track presence, which is merely the visible aspect. The track is the icing on the cake; first we must build the cake.”
“The most important achievements over the next two years will be linked to organisational expansion.”
Audi still needs to improve the power unit, as both Bortoleto and Hulkenberg struggled in qualifying speed‑trap data at Silverstone.
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team
Photo by: Manuel Eletto / Getty Images
Recent ADUO data indicate that, in terms of internal combustion engine performance, Audi lags more than 4 % behind the leading Red Bull‑Ford benchmark, leaving the team with two engine upgrade tokens.
Audi hopes these upgrades will align the power unit with its already strong chassis, which Bortoleto described as comparable to those of Mercedes and other front‑runners.
“I’m not surprised by the engine shortfall,” Binotto said. “We entered the program later than some rivals, having built new capabilities from the ground up.”
“It is a long‑term project, and I am confident that Audi will develop a top‑tier power unit within a few seasons.”
“Regarding the chassis, I am very pleased. We began constructing this project several years ago, and today we are seeing the first tangible results.”
“What this team has accomplished is already a remarkable success and reinforces my confidence that we have the right people to build a winning squad.”
“It may be difficult to pinpoint whether we are fourth or fifth in terms of competitiveness at present, but driver feedback from other teams reflects that our car excels in cornering.”
“Data analysis also shows this: while we lose ground on the straights, we recover it in the corners.”