(Motorsport-Total.com) – Audi has managed a solid start in Formula 1: The former Sauber team already collected its first World Championship points at the opener in Australia and also moved in the stable midfield in China and Japan. However, for the jump to the top, the Ingolstadt-based team is lacking one thing above all, namely a better engine.
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“We have found that the biggest gap to the top teams is due to the power unit, which was not unexpected,” admits Audi project leader Mattia Binotto and adds: “We knew that this would be the biggest challenge.”
While the team has already developed its own chassis in recent years, this experience was lacking in the power unit. Engine development therefore represented one of the biggest hurdles and at the same time explains why Audi cannot currently fight for positions at the top.
Straight-line speed as Audi’s weakness
This deficit was also clearly evident in Japan. “If you don’t have the speed on the straight, you might use the energy to defend yourself,” explains Binotto. “But when the batteries are empty, there’s not much left. I think we have to look at the data very closely.”
“We cannot draw any premature conclusions now,” the Italian warns, but at the same time makes it clear that there is “an issue with the energy” and “also with the way we use it.” With this, Audi’s biggest weakness is clearly named: “Straight-line speed is not our strength at the moment,” Binotto emphasizes.
“If you use up your energy and thereby drain the batteries, you are extremely vulnerable to being overtaken,” the former Ferrari team principal adds to the findings so far. “That is part of our learning process in these first races.”
Binotto dampens expectations: “Know that it takes a long time”
Now it is a matter of evaluating the data together with the drivers and understanding how “such situations can best be defused,” says Binotto. Currently, it is less about an immediate solution and more about mitigating the problems. “And then we’ll see what is possible in the near future.”
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Nevertheless, there is initial cautious confidence. “We have a plan to close the gap,” the 56-year-old hints. “But engine development, especially with some concepts, can take longer. It is no coincidence that we have set 2030 as our goal.”
Even before the first race, Audi had declared that it wanted to fight for the World Championship title from 2030. “We know that it will take a long time,” adds the project leader, who is currently acting in a dual role following the departure of team principal Jonathan Wheatley.
Binotto emphasizes: “Audi cannot perform miracles”
“And I think what we need now is patience,” Binotto warns against excessive expectations, even if the start of the season has been quite positive from Audi’s perspective. “We are very ambitious and would love to solve the problems in a few races.”
“But sometimes that’s just not possible,” the Italian adds. “That’s why we have to understand exactly where we stand as a team, what the plans are. And we also have to stick to the plans. Because miracles are not possible. We are not here to perform miracles.”
“That is not in our nature. We cannot do that,” emphasizes Binotto, who nevertheless remains confident. “We are here to have concrete plans, to address problems and to improve in the future. And I think that is also possible.”
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