AUD
BaseHinwil, Switzerland
Founded1993 (as Sauber, Audi takeover 2026)
Team PrincipalMattia Binotto
Power UnitAudi
ChassisAudi F1-26
2026 DriversNico Hulkenberg (#27), Gabriel Bortoleto (#5)

Team Principal - Mattia Binotto

Mattia Binotto is a Swiss-Italian motorsport engineer who brings decades of Ferrari experience to the Audi F1 project. Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1969, Binotto joined Ferrari in 1995 as a test engine engineer and spent nearly three decades with the Scuderia, rising through the ranks to become chief technical officer and eventually team principal from 2019 to 2022. During his time at Ferrari, Binotto oversaw the development of the team's turbo-hybrid power units and played a key role in the engineering renaissance that produced competitive cars in 2017-2018 and 2022. His tenure as team principal was marked by strong technical results but criticism over race-day strategy and team management. After leaving Ferrari at the end of 2022, Binotto was recruited by Audi to lead their ambitious F1 entry. His deep knowledge of power unit development makes him particularly suited to overseeing the creation of Audi's first F1 engine. Binotto brings a methodical, engineering-focused approach and has been given the time and resources to build a competitive operation from scratch within the existing Sauber infrastructure.

2026 Season

P8
Constructors'
2
Points
0
Wins

Career Stats

0
Constructors' Titles
1
Race Wins (as Sauber)
1
Pole Positions (as Sauber)

Team History

The team racing as Audi F1 in 2026 carries the legacy of the Sauber Motorsport organization, founded by Swiss engineer Peter Sauber in 1970. Sauber initially competed in sports car racing, achieving remarkable success including outright victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours with Mercedes-Benz in 1989. The team entered Formula 1 in 1993 and quickly established itself as a respected midfield constructor, known for developing young talent and engineering innovation despite limited budgets.

Throughout its F1 history, Sauber served as a launching pad for some of the sport's biggest stars. Kimi Raikkonen made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2001, going on to become world champion with Ferrari. Felipe Massa, Robert Kubica, Sebastian Vettel (in a single-race cameo), and Charles Leclerc all drove for the team early in their careers. BMW purchased a stake in 2006, rebranding the team as BMW Sauber, and Robert Kubica scored the team's only victory at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. BMW withdrew after 2009, and the team reverted to the Sauber name.

In 2019, the team partnered with Alfa Romeo, racing under the Alfa Romeo name while remaining a Sauber-run operation. This partnership ended after 2023, and the team raced as Kick Sauber in 2024 while the Audi transition was being finalized. The 2024 season was one of the worst in the team's history, with the team finishing last in the constructors' championship without scoring a single point - the first time the Hinwil outfit had gone pointless since its early years.

Audi's full takeover was completed for the 2026 season, marking the Volkswagen Group brand's entry into Formula 1. The German manufacturer brings massive resources, engineering expertise from its dominant years in sports car racing and rallying, and a purpose-built power unit designed from scratch for the 2026 regulations. Mattia Binotto was recruited from Ferrari to lead the project, and experienced driver Nico Hulkenberg was paired with exciting Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. The early results have been modest - just 2 points through three races - but Audi has always stressed that this is a long-term project. For a brand that won Le Mans 13 times and dominated the World Endurance Championship, the ambition is clear: Audi wants to become a championship contender in Formula 1.

Current Drivers

#27
Nico Hulkenberg
Team leader
#5
Gabriel Bortoleto
F2 champion

Interesting Facts

  • Audi has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans 13 times, making it one of the most successful manufacturers in endurance racing history - and now it wants to conquer F1.
  • The Hinwil factory has been producing F1 cars since Sauber entered the sport in 1993, making it one of the longest-serving facilities on the grid.
  • Nico Hulkenberg holds an unwanted F1 record - the most race starts (more than 200) without a podium finish, though his consistency makes him an ideal team leader for a developing project.
  • Gabriel Bortoleto won the 2024 Formula 2 championship, continuing the Sauber/Audi tradition of giving young champions their F1 opportunity.
  • Audi's F1 power unit is the first from the Volkswagen Group, marking a historic moment for the world's second-largest automaker.

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