Audi issue plea to 'manage expectations' ahead of F1 2026 uncertainty

Audi has downplayed expectations ahead of its F1 debut in 2026 as it prepares to join the grid for the first time.

The German manufacturer announced in 2022 that it would enter the sport for the start of a new era under fresh technical regulations.

Its announcement also confirmed it would construct its own power unit as it takes over the Sauber organisation - an outfit that has been associated with F1 for over 30 years.

The scale of Audi's operation has not been understimated by the project's leader Mattia Binotto, who insisted it will be several years before the team is in a position to fight at the front of the field.

“It’s more about managing expectations first and then about delivering in a way that for us, 2026 is day zero,” Binotto exclusively told RacingNews365.

“We should not forget we are newcomers, it’s really a different environment, specification and competencies. The knowledge is very specific.

“It will be a continuous learning process. I'm not expecting to be the best power train at the start. That's not the goal.

“Instead, I'm happy to see how the team is developing, the way we are developing, but it will be for us, 2026 a day zero.

“It’s again a matter of speed, how long it will take for us to catch up, how long it will take for us to become the best power train.”

The team will enter next year with largely the same set-up it had in 2025, with Jonathan Wheatley acting as team principal, while Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will pilot its cars.

However, it is not expecting to be in a position to fight at the helm of the pecking order as it has put a four-year plan in place to march itself to the top.

Despite enjoying success in other categories, Binotto asserted it will not translate to immediate success in F1.

“We set an objective, which is 2030 to at least win, to fight for a championship,” he said.

“We know it will take several seasons to become the best team from a chassis, but certainly as well from a powertrain point of view.

“It’s where we need to manage communication and to manage expectations.

“We need to explain our journey. We need to explain that even Audi in the past, it’s not that from day zero they have been the best.

“Think instead how long it is to build, [achieve] continuous improvement and reach the target because of proper planning and proper development.

“Communication will be key, because we need to explain our journey, and we need to explain that at the start of climbing our mountain, we are at day zero in 2026.”