Charles Leclerc believes that former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto can use his experience to get the Audi project off the ground.
Mattia Binotto, the new challenge is called Audi
The Italian manager, who left Scuderia Ferrari at the end of the 2022 Formula 1 championship after almost three decades of working in Maranello, has taken charge of Audi’s project for entering Formula 1. The Swiss-born Italian engineer has been active for a few days at Sauber – the team that will become Audi in 2026 – and he faces an intriguing challenge.
Charles Leclerc’s comments
One of the believers in Mattia Binotto is an “unlikely” Charles Leclerc, who had clashes with the former Maranello team principal in their last year of working together, but has maintained a respectful and cordial relationship: “I think Mattia knows the Swiss culture very well, having lived there for a long time, and this will do him good. He can also leverage his previous experience at a team like Ferrari to benefit from it,” these are the comments from the Monegasque driver during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend – “There are definitely many things he can bring to a team like Sauber thanks to the knowledge he gained from his past experiences.” – the Ferrari man pointed out.
A dangerous road
Certainly, someone who has spent 28 years at Ferrari, the last four as team principal, cannot fear anything, but the Audi project also represents a perilous mountain.
The four-rings brand is eagerly awaited for its debut in Formula 1, and the sport has accommodated it with the engine regulations effective from the 2026 championship, so much is expected from Audi despite the “starting point” (Sauber) being a team which is currently in extreme difficulty. However, if results do not come in 2026 (Audi Formula Racing CEO Adam Baker had “bet” on some podiums), the blame would fall entirely on Mattia Binotto, who has inherited the project mid-course.
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