AUDI 2025

[Aty]

This thread has been separated from the old one, as Audi (and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA)) will assume full ownership of former Sauber team.

Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA. Silent minority shareholder in the F1 team. (Unconfirmed, presumably 17 - 30%).

Managers:

Dr. Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Hinwil

Mattia Binotto Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Technical Officer (CTO)
Jonathan Wheatley Team principal

Web sites:
https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/formula-1-14842

[Aty]

Audi...

Sauber's (under)performance has managed to upset some people at the top of food chain, and it appears, as the linked article suggest, iconic automaker wants clean slate as they are taking over the organization on schedule. There were some questions I had on my mind, despite following of developments in media on daily basis, and some of it has been answered. For example AAB will be leaving end of the year, and there is more. Some decisions they have implemented are brutal, but the F1 is no joke. Prestige is on the line.

The German manufacturer has plans to start its own Academy from scratch. During the first week of January, Audi will formally complete the acquisition of the shares still owned by an investment fund fully owned by Swedish billionaire Finn Rausing, who will also vacate his position in the Sauber Group Board of Directors, leaving the car manufacturer and its new partner, the Qatar Investment Authority, in complete control of the Swiss company.

https://www.grandprix.com/news/sauber-d ... ademy.html

Life begins in January.

[Aty]

Audi has too many managers? Toto Wolff would probably say - not really.

Audi seems to follow management structure Torger Wolff ("Toto") cultivates at Mercedes F1. It has been argued elsewhere, that complexities of the current F1 systems in which several major players operate (team owners, series owners, FiA, the team), one person cannot manage all aspects of racing in this series effectively. It may have worked with BE at the top, but today In Toto's world there are three managers to cover the grounds without short-changing team's needs. That's what we have with Audi as I understand it. One needs to accept that plant in Germany has their own structure, yet they need to collaborated with Hinwil on PU interfacing and development. They have of course separate management.

[Aty]

1 January 2025

It's all Audi now, with good and the other.

New signing Gabriel Lourenzo Bortoleto Oliveira brings in youth, and quality of potential winner. His partner, Nico Hülkenberg brings in tones of experience, wisdom and calmness in difficult situations. I do hope he and Mattia will sort out their relationship for sake of the team. No more Vettel scenarios repeat, please.

I feel rejuvenated with anticipation that this year the team will move forward. It's not going to be easy or fast, but it will be interesting, and hopefully any sign even of small success will feel deserving.

[Nononsensecapeesh]

1 January 2025

It's all Audi now, with good and the other.

New signing Gabriel Lourenzo Bortoleto Oliveira brings in youth, and quality of potential winner. His partner, Nico Hülkenberg brings in tones of experience, wisdom and calmness in difficult situations. I do hope he and Mattia will sort out their relationship for sake of the team. No more Vettel scenarios repeat, please.

I feel rejuvenated with anticipation that this year the team will move forward. It's not going to be easy or fast, but it will be interesting, and hopefully any sign even of small success will feel deserving.

They could hardly be worse than last year.

[Aty]

1 January 2025

It's all Audi now, with good and the other.

New signing Gabriel Lourenzo Bortoleto Oliveira brings in youth, and quality of potential winner. His partner, Nico Hülkenberg brings in tones of experience, wisdom and calmness in difficult situations. I do hope he and Mattia will sort out their relationship for sake of the team. No more Vettel scenarios repeat, please.

I feel rejuvenated with anticipation that this year the team will move forward. It's not going to be easy or fast, but it will be interesting, and hopefully any sign even of small success will feel deserving.

They could hardly be worse than last year.

Well, input from Mattia may result in marginal improvements, but only later in a season. He is there only a short time. It would be sad and upsetting to run as last team for two years in a row, but it can happen. This upcoming season is just not normal with a single focus on one car. Audi has yet to have all facilities at Hinwil up to snuff (a level what others have already). Then a car... last year car is hopless, and new people will need to jump in running. New era begins next year, and false start could be deadly. I am disappointed with James Key. Once in the past he was sold by media as a hot acquisition, but today I think he was oversold. I wonder if Andreas didn't make mistaked to hire him as a technical chief. Wheatley, a new TP is also is not starting right away. (I am actually not sure of his timing.) One challenge after another are awaiting.

[Aty]

It's only appropriate to give a warm recap how it all started.

Sauber F1's history

https://youtu.be/YXQ2AdLhaSc

Forever grateful to a decent man with a big heart.

[Aty]

GABRIEL BORTOLETO REIGNITES THE LEGEND OF THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL

When Gabriel Bortoleto takes to the grid in his Sauber at the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16, he will become the first Brazilian to start in Formula 1 since Pietro Fittipaldi in the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The 32nd to do so from his homeland.

Good example for Germany what's missing. It was always a driver we came to see conquering World.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2025/01/05 ... om-brazil/



I wonder if Kelly, his partner in life, can convince Max to replace Hulk and join Gabriel (conexão brasileira), when time comes. [/and now he voke up to reality]

[PTRACER]

Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA. Silent minority shareholder in the F1 team. (Unconfirmed, presumably 17 - 30%).

Al-di?

Is the team actually named Audi from 2025? I am so behind on these things...

[Aty]

Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA. Silent minority shareholder in the F1 team. (Unconfirmed, presumably 17 - 30%).

Al-di?

Is the team actually named Audi from 2025? I am so behind on these things...

HNY to you, PTRACER.

The question is a good one, and short answer is - I don't know. If I have to take a guess, I would have to say the team will race under Sauber-title in upcoming season. Audi official entry is 2026. What is changing is ownership. That's purportedly all Audi & Co.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA. Silent minority shareholder in the F1 team. (Unconfirmed, presumably 17 - 30%).

Al-di?

Is the team actually named Audi from 2025? I am so behind on these things...

HNY to you, PTRACER.

The question is a good one, and short answer is - I don't know. If I have to take a guess, I would have to say the team will race under Sauber-title in upcoming season. Audi official entry is 2026. What is changing is ownership. That's purportedly all Audi & Co.

They will be running as Sauber (well Stake F1 Kick Sauber to give them the entrant name) with zero reference to Audi for 2025. Audi now along with the Qatar Investment Authority (State owned) own the team with QIA 30% shareholders. Audi the balance as of a few days ago. (I thing Finn Rausing who owned Sauber still owned 25% until then and had always intented to retain a shareholding.

Audi investment has basically been zero in the existing team and in effect investing in the 2026 project. In effect it seems like they couldnt care less where the team finishes in y2025 as it didnt in 2024. No visual reference to anything Audi. If all the investment goes into next years car their hope is that even if, as Audi, they finish 9th they are in a better place than the team known as Sauber was. Also this year they are still running with Ferrari engines and powertrain..... from 2026 it will be all Audi, from chassis to engine to all the hybrid crap and electric content. When it is all made by Audi then they will be happy to call it Audi. With the limited Audi involvement in the team day to day allows them to get the Audi launch in a better place.

Thats the theory, and already they are accepting it is a challenge and even Audi as a team wont be in a position of winning for some years yet.
At least they will likely beat the GM entry. I honestly believe that will be an embarrassment. and I will be surprised if they are not the 2026 version of Marussia or HRT F1 . Their challenge will be even bigger than Audi.

[Aty]

Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA. Silent minority shareholder in the F1 team. (Unconfirmed, presumably 17 - 30%).

Al-di?

Is the team actually named Audi from 2025? I am so behind on these things...

HNY to you, PTRACER.

The question is a good one, and short answer is - I don't know. If I have to take a guess, I would have to say the team will race under Sauber-title in upcoming season. Audi official entry is 2026. What is changing is ownership. That's purportedly all Audi & Co.

They will be running as Sauber (well Stake F1 Kick Sauber to give them the entrant name) with zero reference to Audi for 2025. Audi now along with the Qatar Investment Authority (State owned) own the team with QIA 30% shareholders. Audi the balance as of a few days ago. (I thing Finn Rausing who owned Sauber still owned 25% until then and had always intented to retain a shareholding.

Audi investment has basically been zero in the existing team and in effect investing in the 2026 project. In effect it seems like they couldnt care less where the team finishes in y2025 as it didnt in 2024. No visual reference to anything Audi. If all the investment goes into next years car their hope is that even if, as Audi, they finish 9th they are in a better place than the team known as Sauber was. Also this year they are still running with Ferrari engines and powertrain..... from 2026 it will be all Audi, from chassis to engine to all the hybrid crap and electric content. When it is all made by Audi then they will be happy to call it Audi. With the limited Audi involvement in the team day to day allows them to get the Audi launch in a better place.

Thats the theory, and already they are accepting it is a challenge and even Audi as a team wont be in a position of winning for some years yet.
At least they will likely beat the GM entry. I honestly believe that will be an embarrassment. and I will be surprised if they are not the 2026 version of Marussia or HRT F1 . Their challenge will be even bigger than Audi.

Thank you EB for clarification. Mattia made a comment recently which supports partly what you are writing, namely, upon his arrival he has discovered lack of any plans to work on the Sauber racer before 2026. That would explain why Andreas was working under direction not to "waste" money and focus solely on the 2026 project. Problem was, as stated now several times on this forum, previous ownership supported only limited budget the team had for upgrades of supporting structures. I am not however sure I should agree nothing has changed for this year. In one of the rare interviews Mattia gave, he said conditions will change. What he meant exactly by that I am not sure. It is logical that Audi has made investment of essential upgrades.
Regarding QIA shares, neither they, or Audi has actually revealed/confirmed details of that investment. A lot of guessing is going on by "sources close to the action". There is less than 10 people who are in the know.

[Michael Ferner]

I wonder if Kelly, his partner in life, can convince Max to replace Hulk and join Gabriel (conexão brasileira), when time comes. [/and now he voke up to reality]

If anything, Bortoleto may join Max at Red Bull...

I expect Sauber to be a waste of time and grid space in 2025, even more so than last year. Remember Tyrrell in 1998, they were in a similar position: the new owners were preparing and experimenting around for 1999, and had zero interest in actual performance, merely fulfilling contractual obligations. Back then, some ungracious voices were heard saying that BAR wanted Tyrrell to go out on a whimper in order to make sure BAR's entry would be an improvement over that, if nothing else. In fact, it turned out to be not even that, as BAR in 1999 was about as hopeless as Tyrrell had been the year before. So, next year Audi have the advantage of not possibly being any worse than that.

[Aty]

I wonder if Kelly, his partner in life, can convince Max to replace Hulk and join Gabriel (conexão brasileira), when time comes. [/and now he voke up to reality]

If anything, Bortoleto may join Max at Red Bull...

I expect Sauber to be a waste of time and grid space in 2025, even more so than last year. Remember Tyrrell in 1998, they were in a similar position: the new owners were preparing and experimenting around for 1999, and had zero interest in actual performance, merely fulfilling contractual obligations. Back then, some ungracious voices were heard saying that BAR wanted Tyrrell to go out on a whimper in order to make sure BAR's entry would be an improvement over that, if nothing else. In fact, it turned out to be not even that, as BAR in 1999 was about as hopeless as Tyrrell had been the year before. So, next year Audi have the advantage of not possibly being any worse than that.

Michael I don't expect you to read everything on the bulletin, but my view regarding young Gabriel is the same, namely, his entry and signing up with Sauber is not where his future is. I also expect him to leave as soon as his (a) contract permits, and (b) better offer is made for him to take it. He wanted to get in, so he is in. Earlier post was little cheeky, but as I see, it didn't pan well.

Regarding Sauber - it is what it is. Sauber (aka soon Audi) will have the same car in upcoming season as they had in last season. Despite reading a lot stories, about that place, I am unable to say how much Audi will invest into the old project, if anything. Just to avoid embarrassment, yet P10 may happen again. I am not expecting miracles. Realistically Mattia will sleep in his office for 4 hours a night, next 12 months.

Infrastructure upgrades, new people, new car...etc. Moreover, staffing of the team is not yet complete. They have money, desire to move project forward, but everything else is work in progress.

[PTRACER]

Regarding Sauber - it is what it is. Sauber (aka soon Audi) will have the same car in upcoming season as they had in last season.

I am not able to find anything online that says Sauber will run their 2024 car again in 2025. Where did you get this info from?