Audi-Sauber opens a base in the United Kingdom
Audi-Sauber is also moving to England by opening a new base to recruit high-profile engineers and close the gap with other F1 teams as quickly as possible. This decision, made by project manager Mattia Binotto, was also taken to address an economic issue, not just a logistical one. For many British engineers, relocating to Hinwil (a small town about 30 km from Zurich) is often a family-related challenge. Additionally, Sauber spends more on staff salaries than other F1 teams based in the UK and Italy due to Switzerland’s high cost of living. For this reason, Audi had requested a budget cap exemption from the FIA starting in 2026, but so far without success.
Ferrari, the only F1 team without a UK base
Opening a technical center in England, specifically in the so-called Midlands Motor Valley (the area between Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Buckinghamshire in the south-central part of the country), could partially compensate for this economic and logistical disadvantage by attracting higher-profile engineers and technicians. However, Sauber’s move is also significant for another reason: until now, it was the only team, alongside Ferrari, without a UK base. With Mattia Binotto’s decision, the Maranello team remains the sole F1 team without a factory or operational center in the English Motor Valley. But where exactly are the F1 teams headquartered? Let’s find out.
McLaren
Headquarters: Woking, United Kingdom
The reigning Constructors’ Champion, McLaren, does not develop an engine but is a Mercedes customer team. All chassis and aerodynamic components not outsourced to third-party suppliers are produced at the historic Woking headquarters, a town of about 60,000 residents in Surrey.
Ferrari
Headquarters: Maranello, Italy
There’s no need to mention that Ferrari, the historic Italian automotive brand and manufacturer, is based in Italy. The main factory is, of course, in the legendary Maranello, a town of fewer than 20,000 people in Modena province, globally famous as the home of the Prancing Horse. Here, all Ferrari cars are built, including F1 single-seaters and racing cars for other motorsport competitions. However, this hasn’t always been the case: between 1987 and 1991, Ferrari outsourced some F1 design activities to Guildford, England, at the request of then-technical director John Barnard, who was reluctant to relocate to Emilia. The center was shut down after some failed projects and Barnard’s subsequent departure from Ferrari.
Red Bull
Headquarters: Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Red Bull, the reigning Drivers’ Champion with Max Verstappen aiming to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of five consecutive F1 titles in 2025, is based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The factory was inherited from teams that raced in F1 before Red Bull entered the sport: it was used by Stewart from 1996 to 1999 and then by Jaguar from 2000 to 2004. The facility is currently expanding, as the team, with Ford’s support, is developing its own hybrid turbo power units under the Red Bull Powertrains division, set to debut in 2026.
Mercedes
Headquarters: Brackley, United Kingdom | Engine Facility: Brixworth, United Kingdom
Unlike the other teams mentioned so far, Mercedes has a dual operational base, both located in England and just a few kilometers apart. The cars are designed and developed at the Brackley factory, while the power units that dominated the turbo-hybrid era from 2014 to 2021 are produced in Brixworth.
Aston Martin
Headquarters: Silverstone, United Kingdom
Just a few meters from the Silverstone circuit’s entrance lies the Aston Martin Racing factory, recently renovated and significantly expanded. Unlike Ferrari in Italy, however, the entire Technology Campus is currently dedicated solely to the F1 team, while the production of Aston Martin road cars remains based in nearby Gaydon.
Alpine
Headquarters: Enstone, United Kingdom | Engine Facility: Viry-Châtillon, France
Despite its French origins, Alpine— which took over from Renault in F1 in 2021— is headquartered in the UK. The team’s main factory is in Enstone, previously used by Toleman, Benetton, Lotus, and Renault. Meanwhile, the V6 turbo-hybrid power unit is produced in France at the Viry-Châtillon facility. However, from 2026, the Renault group will no longer supply F1 engines, as the team, under Flavio Briatore’s guidance, has secured a customer deal with Mercedes.
Haas
Headquarters: Kannapolis, United States | Factory: Banbury, United Kingdom, and Varano de’ Melegari, Italy
Haas is the smallest and most cosmopolitan team in F1. Founded by Gene Haas, it is an American team with its headquarters in Kannapolis, North Carolina. However, managing daily operations from such a distance is impractical, so the F1 cars are designed in Banbury, UK, with some components manufactured at the Dallara factory in Varano de’ Melegari, Italy. In recent years, Haas has also maintained office space within Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters.
Racing Bulls
Headquarters: Faenza, Italy | Secondary Base: Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Despite multiple name changes, Racing Bulls (formerly Toro Rosso, AlphaTauri, and RB) remains the team closest to Ferrari in terms of operational base. The “B team” of Red Bull has historically been headquartered in Faenza, Ravenna province, at the former Minardi headquarters, which it took over in 2006. However, strong synergies exist with Red Bull and its Milton Keynes factory, where some components are produced.
Williams
Headquarters: Grove, United Kingdom
The legendary team founded by Frank Williams and Patrick Head, which won 9 Constructors’ and 7 Drivers’ titles in F1, remains UK-based despite being owned by the American investment firm Dorilton Capital. The factory is located in Grove, Oxfordshire.
Sauber
Headquarters: Hinwil, Switzerland | Secondary Base: Midlands area, United Kingdom (from 2025) | Engine Facility: Neuburg an der Donau, Germany
Until now, Sauber was the only F1 team besides Ferrari without a UK operational base. This will change with Binotto and Audi’s decision to open a facility by mid-2025 in the Bicester-Silverstone-Milton Keynes area while maintaining its main headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland. In reality, Sauber will have three sites, as its power unit will be developed at Audi Sport’s Neuburg an der Donau facility in Germany.
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