Earlier this week, Audi made headlines by announcing the sudden departure of Andreas Seidl, the CEO of their F1 project. This shake-up comes on the heels of reported conflicts between Seidl, the ex-McLaren F1 boss, and other executives.
Nico Hulkenberg, who joined Audi through Seidl, described the reorganization as “unexpected.” “These were the two guys we did the deal with,” he said, adding that the decision to change leadership came directly from Audi’s top brass.
Mattia Binotto, formerly of Ferrari, is set to take over, although his exact role remains unclear. Reports suggest Audi is also eyeing Aston Martin’s Mike Krack for the team principal position.
Hulkenberg acknowledged the challenges but expressed optimism. This season, he’s outqualified his Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen 10-3 and sits just 2 points behind Lance Stroll in the driver’s championship.
Despite Audi’s current struggles at the bottom of the F1 standings, Hulkenberg is committed to the long-term project. He believes in Audi’s vision and is motivated to contribute to their success in Formula 1.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz took to social media to share his positive experiences with Binotto, hinting at a possible future collaboration. “Grazie Mattia,” Sainz posted, praising the former Ferrari boss for his leadership.
Hulkenberg dismissed concerns about instability, stating, “It’s back to business. I still look forward to joining the project and making it a successful story.”
James Key, Audi’s technical director, suggested that full integration of the team might take until 2027. As Binotto prepares to start his new role, there’s much work ahead to meet these ambitious goals.
The road to Sauber becoming Audi F1 has been rocky, including financial challenges that forced the team to retain Zhou Guangyu. Audi’s intervention led to a complete buyout of the team.
Binotto’s previous demands for autonomy might now be met, allowing him greater freedom compared to his time at Ferrari. F1 reporter Lawrence Barretto noted Binotto’s extensive experience at Ferrari as a solid foundation for his new role at Audi.
With Binotto at the helm, Audi aims to overcome its initial hurdles and make a significant impact in Formula 1. Hulkenberg’s optimism and Binotto’s expertise could be the perfect combination to steer Audi to success.
