Gabriel Bortoleto reveals Audi 'truth' after major changes

Gabriel Bortoleto has revealed the major changes he has noticed since Audi entered Formula 1 and took over Sauber, insisting that the "truth" is it is an entirely different operation.

Audi entered Formula 1 at the start of the new power unit regulations after acquiring Sauber, a team with a long history in the championship.

However, in recent years, the Hinwil-based outfit was often uncompetitive, simply lacking the budget or backing to mount a charge towards becoming a leading team.

With the arrival of Audi, that has changed completely, as the German manufacturer has both the ambition and the financial backing to become a leading operation in Formula 1.

According to Bortoleto, this has triggered a complete shift in mentality within the team, affecting not only how people behave but also how they work.

At the heart of Audi's Formula 1 project is becoming a power unit supplier, something it has achieved to an admirable standard at the first attempt. However, Bortoleto and the team know that progress and further improvements are still needed.

Discussing the progress being made by Audi, Bortoleto explained: "Yeah, you can really see a difference, especially the mentality has shifted a lot. I think lots of respect for the team that we had for last year and many other years before that, but the truth, reality, is that we are in a different situation right now.

"We have Audi backing us up. It’s manufacturing. We are doing our own engine. We have a lot of financial support from them, so we are not struggling in that sense that maybe Sauber struggled in the past. And then the mentality also shifts. We want to achieve big things in the future.

"We have our goals clear inside of the team and we are working to achieve them. And I can really see the difference between last year to this year, how people are behaving, the way they are working differently.

"And also, now we have an incredible team also in Neuburg that was basically everyone that we didn’t work last year in Neuburg doing the power units. And what they achieved on doing in a first-year regulation, first time they’re doing a Formula 1 engine, is in my opinion an incredible thing.

"Still, we know we need to improve on that. We need to do better. We know we are behind, but it’s not easy to do what they did. Hats off to them, and we’re going to keep pushing and working in that way, and we’re going to achieve great things in the future."