P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mattia Binotto “wonld have signed” to achieve Audi’s early success this year.
Audi team principal Mattia Binotto evaluated the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season for the team, now under Audi as Sauber became the Audi factory team in F1 during the winter, after a restructuring exercise initiated in 2022. Despite a challenging performance in 2023 and 2024, with low points scored, Sauber showed improvement in 2025, accumulating 70 points and marking progress on the track. In the current season, Audi has made a slightly slower start with two points but has shown competitiveness against top teams in qualifying and races, utilizing their own power unit in the competition against major rivals. Binotto expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress so far, highlighting the importance of avoiding fundamental issues and focusing on continuous development to move forward effectively. The upcoming races in Miami are anticipated to witness significant upgrades from all teams after a brief break in April, with a renewed energy to push performance levels in what could be viewed as a “new championship,” as suggested by Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur.
