Stake concede Audi 'tension' after point-less F1 season

Stake F1 has conceded that there is some "tension" within the team as it continues with preparations for Audi's arrival in 2026.

The Ingolstadt concern will make its grand prix debut in 2026, taking over the Sauber team, which is racing under the Stake F1 moniker in '24 and '25. 

However, up to the Belgian Grand Prix, Stake is yet to score a point, with its best result being 11th for Zhou Guanyu in the Bahrain season-opener. 

Since then, its best result has been a trio of 13th-place finishes, with the team set to be the last to get off the mark. 

The car is weak over a single-lap in qualifying and in high-speed corners as it continues to try and work through the problems, with Audi making big personnel decisions over recent weeks. 

Long-time project leader Andreas Seidl has departed, to be replaced by former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto as team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi conceded some tension is in the Hinwil air.

"To look at the separation between what we are now and what we will be in 2026 is normal because the foundation of the Audi factory team is the current team," Alunni Bravi told RacingNews365 in an exclusive interview.

"There is no concern but of course there is a tension that we need to do the right step, to change and steer in a positive direction for our [2024] season, but there is good support and some tension.

"Audi is providing all the tools in order to make the investment to appoint the people that we need to develop our structure. 

"We are still around 600 people, compared to the count of other teams that have at least 1,000 people - these our are direct competitors. 

"I'm speaking about Williams and Alpine, not to mention other teams like Aston Martin for instance. 

"I don't want to say there is a concern, but we know that we need to change the direction and we need to improve our results. 

"We are all together to deliver this better performance."

Building the team

Alunni Bravi feels that if the team can show improved performances before Audi's arrival, it will become a more appealing project, not just to drivers, but also technical staff. 

Nico Hulkenberg has put pen to paper to race for the team in 2025 ahead of the four rings' arrival in '26, with long-term target Carlos Sainz ultimately opting for Williams. 

It appears certain that Zhou will be leaving the team, although the future of team-mate Valtteri Bottas appears more certain, especially given the Sainz news and a need for another experienced grand prix driver to slot in alongside Hulkenberg.

"I am always convinced that every day's work has an impact on the future," Bravi said. 

"Of course, it is important for us to score results, to position the team and a higher level has an impact on the drivers' market, the [staff] recruitment plan and on the commercial side. 

"What makes me optimistic is that the Audi project is such a strong community. We know the challenges but we will be competitive, it is just a matter of time. 

"Of course, now we are in a phase that is very far from a competitive shape, but we are working a lot behind the scenes to develop our structure. 

"We just need to tie the elements together."