Audi has not entered F1 yet, and it is already making waves. The German outfit will take over 100% of the current Sauber team to debut in Formula 1 in 2026. To head its operations while preparing for a grand F1 appearance, Audi had chosen Andreas Seidl. However, the ex-McLaren team principal left abruptly, leaving the leader’s spot at the Zurich-based team empty. Then, Mattia Binotto, the man famous for heading Ferrari between 2019 and 2022, came into the picture. Currently, he serves as the Chief Operating Officer as well as the Chief Technical Officer of Audi.

Binotto has already had a close connection with F1 as he has led a premiere squad for several years. The Italian has also met with the Ferrari juniors, who reserve enough talent to qualify for a seat at Audi in the future. Among them, Guanyu Zhou’s name comes up first. The Chinese racer is in his third season with Sauber right now, as his team changed names from Alfa Romeo to Stake F1 this year. But in these three years, Zhou has only scored 12 championship points, owing to the lack of competence in his car.

But the ex-podium-holder at the 2021 edition of Formula 2 reserves enough talent to shine in F1 if given a reset. Now, Zhou hopes Audi can be his ticket to a second chance at doing things right in Formula 1. He hopes to get a seat on the German team since Mattia Binotto knows him from his Ferrari junior days between 2014 and 2018. Guanyu said to ‘The Race’, “For the future or for next year, it [Mattia Binotto’s entry into Audi] is definitely better. I’ve known him for quite a while now, being involved with Ferrari’s academy for several years.”

While Guanyu Zhou has pegged his hopes on Mattia Binotto joining Audi, does the Italian have any powers to wield regarding the team’s recruitment decisions?

Mattia Binotto will “have a clear leadership” at Audi

As Audi will not be entering Formula 1 for the next 12 months, Alessandro Alunni Bravi currently serves as Sauber’s representative. So, he is the one who dealt with questions regarding Mattia Binotto’s power to influence recruitment decisions at Audi. For this, Alunni Bravi said, “Mattia will have a clear leadership reporting directly to Audi AG CEO Gernot Dollner. This is an important sign of this new process that will help us to even further accelerate this transformation.”

Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg, who has been a frontrunner for the Audi seat, has given a very different take on Mattia Binotto becoming the new leader of the German team. He believes the ex-Ferrari team boss will not alter his decision regarding his chances of driving for Audi. The Hulk said, “No, [I am] not concerned. Now that was obviously a bit of a wave, a bit of a shock. But now it’s back to business. I still look forward to joining their project and making it a successful story with Audi.”

With the entry of Mattia Binotto and the subsequent recruitment of Jonathan Wheatley, Audi has scored two powerful F1 officials in one swing. Do you think this increases the chances of the team making a successful Formula 1 debut in 2026?