Former Driver Raises Concerns Over Audi’s 2026 F1 Entry
Former Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas has expressed significant doubts about Audi’s Formula 1 project, which is set to debut in 2026 through a takeover of the Sauber team.
Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, Bottas specifically highlighted concerns about the team’s chassis development capabilities. “My biggest concern is the chassis. It will not be manufactured by Audi, but will continue to be manufactured by Sauber,” said Bottas, who will move to a reserve driver role at Mercedes in 2025.
These concerns were echoed by Sauber CEO Mattia Binotto, who acknowledged significant infrastructure gaps compared to top teams. Binotto noted that Sauber currently operates with approximately 400 fewer staff than leading F1 teams and faces challenges including limited production capacity and outdated simulation facilities.
“This team has only survived for the past ten years, it has been in survival mode,” Binotto stated. He suggested that the team might not achieve competitive success until 2030, indicating a potentially lengthy development period ahead.
In the interim, Sauber is undergoing significant changes for the 2025 season. The team has announced a new driver lineup featuring F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto and experienced driver Nico Hulkenberg, who joins from Haas. This move resulted in the departure of both Zhou Guanyu and Bottas from the team.
