Going ahead
It’s exhausting to keep away from the sensation that Sauber are successfully in a holding sample till they change into Audi’s works outfit in 2026. That stated, they actually need to indicate some indicators of progress forward of the German producer’s arrival.
A lot of the information across the crew has been dominated by personnel modifications with former Ferrari Crew Principal Mattia Binotto becoming a member of in August as Chief Working and Chief Technical Officer, following on from the exits of CEO Andreas Seidl and Audi government Oliver Hoffmann, whereas Jonathan Wheatley will change into Crew Principal of the Audi F1 outfit.
Binotto’s affect has been clear since he arrived, together with within the model new driver line-up the crew will probably be fielding in 2025. Whereas the skilled fingers of Nico Hulkenberg had already been signed earlier than the Italian’s arrival, the addition of F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto alongside the German is very much Binotto’s choosing.
2025 F1 GRID: All the driver and team line-ups confirmed so far
Getting these two drivers on top of things and embedded inside the crew as rapidly as doable will probably be very important subsequent 12 months, however so will instilling a profitable mentality. Binotto admitted as a lot within the press convention on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend saying: “I believe that crew within the final years and decade has been there surviving, in a survival mode.
“So, on the finish, it was about surviving, collaborating, making an attempt to get one of the best out of it. However a profitable mentality, a profitable mindset, it is a totally different method. So, there may be definitely rather a lot that must be completed by way of tradition, by way of behaviours.”
Little doubt the longer term Audi F1 mission guarantees to be a very thrilling one – however the work in 2025 may very well be essential in deciding the place on the grid the crew will probably be battling for locations.
