Audi disappointed with Sauber’s performances this season

After 14 Grand Prix races, Stake F1, also known as Sauber, is the only team that has not yet scored any points. If the situation was already worrying the team’s drivers, it is now Audi that expects more from the car. The German team is expected to replace Stake F1 by 2026 and thus become a new team on the grid. But the performance could both jeopardize the transition and the future of its drivers.

The German team is warning

Sauber has always been at the bottom of the ranking in the drivers’ championship. If the car has never really shown its performances, in 2023, 16 points were scored in the season. A record that Sauber is far from equaling as it is still at 0. But beyond not scoring any points, it is especially the team’s delay that worries. Even if it could have narrowly escaped the Top 10, in reality, the Sauber drivers have never managed to surpass the thirteenth position. Which is far from making them candidates for points.

Until now, Audi had never spoken about Sauber or the car. The team preferred to remain silent and only collaborated with the team for the recruitment of its staff. However, this weekend, the new director Mattia Binotto strongly warned the team. According to him, the team’s performances are far from acceptable. As he spoke after another weekend without points, the Italian did not hesitate to criticize Sauber. “We cannot afford it,” he said. “It is the team that must become a winning team in the future. And the only way to achieve this is to start improving on the grid. We must train our muscles for the future.”

Mattia Binotto, former director of Ferrari, joined Audi’s Formula 1 project at the beginning of August as director of operations and technical director. This week, the new head of the project made the trip to the Grand Prix as he was seen in the team’s garage. However, if he was hoping to see improved performances after the summer break, that was not the case. A situation that Audi does not tolerate. “We cannot under any circumstances accept the current position,” insisted the former Ferrari director. “It’s very painful. We were last and second to last, not only at Zandvoort but also here [in Monza], and the gap with the cars ahead is too significant. We need to make efforts to improve.”

A train of delay compared to the other teams

The team’s performance in Italy was far from satisfactory. Valtteri Bottas notably fell to 22nd place in the drivers’ standings, an alarming position given that there are only 20 full-time drivers in the season. The Finn was overtaken by several temporary drivers, including Franco Colapinto who made his debut race at Monza. With only eight races remaining in the season, Sauber finds itself desperately in need of finding a solution. The immediate goal would be to score at least one point before the end of the season. “The foundations of future success are not built in a day,” explained Mattia Binotto. “It’s about continuous progress every day, step by step. We need to start improving as soon as possible.”

If Sauber’s results do not convince, the team’s personnel are also in danger. Mattia Binotto has been in contact with his team for the first time this weekend. And if he couldn’t compile a complete picture, there may well be changes on that front too. « We’re competing with teams that have been in F1 for many years. They are large organizations. That’s not the case for us, admitted the Italian. « We need to strengthen in terms of personnel, organization, tools, processes, methodologies, and facilities. It is also about changing our culture and mindset to meet the necessary requirements to become a winning team. ».

As Sauber focuses on the 2025 season, only Nico Hülkenberg has been confirmed in the team. According to rumors, Valtteri Bottas is said to be the one being considered for the final seat at Audi. However, with very limited performances and pressure mounting, it may be that Audi will ultimately go for a driver from outside its stable. To convince the German firm to stay in the team, Valtteri Bottas and the staff will have to produce better results. But time is running out for Sauber as there is only a quarter of the season left.