Andreas Seidl left McLaren for an adventure at Audi, but it didn’t last long.
The German team, set to take over from Sauber/Stake F1 in 2026, said goodbye to Seidl and hired Mattia Binotto. Guenther Steiner believes Audi made a smart move by bringing in the former Ferrari boss as Chief Operation Officer and Chief Technical Officer.
“I believe Mattia is a good choice. I worked with him for a long time at Ferrari and before that we were friends, so I know him quite well. He understands the business language and knows how to set up the right structure and create the right processes. I don’t want to say it’s easy for him, because nothing is easy in Formula 1. But at least he knows how to go about it,” Steiner explains his position at SRF.
Binotto’s Time at Ferrari
Mattia Binotto faced criticism during his tenure at Ferrari. While leading the Italian team, there were issues with strategy and car development.
Steiner isn’t too concerned about those criticisms. He points out that Binotto was initially a technical expert before becoming team boss. “We all make mistakes and when he was given the position of team boss, he had to learn the first few years the painful way. And you learn from mistakes you don’t repeat.”
Looking Ahead to 2026
Steiner thinks Binotto should focus on 2026 rather than immediate results. Sauber/Stake F1 hasn’t been significant in recent seasons, so aiming for 2026 makes sense. “He needs to focus on what comes in 2026. He needs to build a structure so that Audi in 2026 is not in the same situation as Sauber is in now.”
Binotto will work closely with Jonathan Wheatley from Red Bull, who will become team boss by July 2025 after a gardening leave period .
Fans might think this change brings fresh hope for Audi’s future.
What do you think about these changes?
