Audi warned F1 patience may run out
"We’ve had some tough times since the start of the season"
Audi’s Formula 1 project is making visible progress, but Ralf Schumacher believes the wider crisis at the Volkswagen Group could put pressure on the program if results do not come quickly enough.
The German manufacturer has moved away from the back of the grid and into the midfield battle, but its official target of fighting for the world championship by 2030 may not satisfy everyone indefinitely.
"I was very happy for Nico that he scored his first points before the summer break," Schumacher told Bild newspaper.
"But Audi needs to do more than just send a signal to its own company. They’re currently in crisis, and I think the racing team needs to show some success so that the mood at Audi doesn’t turn against their Formula 1 investment."
"Aiming for the World Championship in 2030 - that could be too late. Success needs to come sooner."
On track, however, Audi insists the trajectory is encouraging.
"We’ve had some tough times since the start of the season," Nico Hulkenberg said at Zandvoort.
"But we’ve stuck together, and I think we now have a competitive package that can allow us to fight in the midfield. Our ambitions have changed - we want to score points more frequently."
"I am happy with the progress made recently, and I feel that we have grown as a team in many areas."
He also stressed the disadvantage Audi faces while developing a completely new power unit.
"We started from scratch and we only have two cars, while other engine manufacturers have many more," said the 39-year-old German. "So it’s going to take time."
Mattia Binotto is taking the same long-term view.
"We first had to build up the necessary know-how and the right skills," said the F1 project’s boss.
"This is a long-term project. But I am convinced that Audi will have a top-level power unit within a few years."
Auto Motor und Sport reports that Audi is already looking towards a major 2028 step, including a substantially new power unit, while the junior program is also developing strongly.
"2026 and 2027 are development years," Binotto insisted. "We shouldn’t be judged solely on race results.
"The first major milestone is 2028. I expect a significant leap in quality then."
Auto Motor und Sport even suggested Audi’s F1 rebuild could offer lessons beyond the race team itself.
"Perhaps this could also be a good model for the rest of the VW Group," the German magazine noted.