Earthquake in Audi F1. Even before the German company has officially taken its first steps in Formula 1, the first heads are already rolling. An official statement released today announced the termination of the relationship with CEO Andreas Seidl and Chairman of the Board of Directors Oliver Hoffmann. Mattia Binotto, the new reference figure for the program, will take their place. Audi has confirmed that the former Ferrari team principal will join the team as COO and CTO from August 1st.
“I am delighted to have Mattia Binotto with us for our ambitious Formula 1 project,” said Audi CEO Gernot Doellner. “With his extensive experience of more than 25 years in Formula 1, he will undoubtedly be able to make a decisive contribution. Our goal is to have clear management structures, defined responsibilities, reduced interfaces and efficient decision-making processes. To this end, the team must be able to act independently and quickly.”
Seidl’s adventure as CEO of the Audi-Sauber team lasted less than two years. When he was announced as the reference role of the Audi F1 program (December 13, 2022) it leaked in the paddock that the former BMW and Porsche engineer had obtained a contract worthy of a mid-grid driver and a record duration, given that the agreement was set to expire in 2030.
Audi and BP logo
Photo by: Audi
A highway to travel at high speed, the one that Seidl found in front of him, but in just under two years of work the balance is negative. The first mistake was to have distanced himself from the Sauber activity, which ended up being the last team on the grid. An aspect that weighed heavily in the recruitment campaign of the two drivers with whom Audi will debut as an official team.
No one likes the idea of spending a year with the prospect of rarely appearing in Q3, and in fact despite the very high budget available (100 million for a three-year contract) Seidl has not managed to reach an agreement with a weighty driver, receiving a series of ‘no thanks’ that have confirmed how little confidence in the project is at the moment. Even the recruitment of technicians so far has been mostly limited to former McLaren staff, the only Formula 1 team in which he has been involved in recent years.
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