Mattia Binotto has held a leading role within the new Audi team since last year. The Italian guided the transition from Sauber to the current German formation, drawing on his years of experience as team principal at Ferrari. After the second race weekend in China, Binotto was asked about the main differences between Audi and the Scuderia. According to him, the culture and structure within the team are particularly striking.
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“Especially the culture is different,” Binotto noted to the press in China. “At Ferrari, there were hardly any fixed processes; you tried something and that was it. There was rarely a clear preconceived plan to achieve certain goals. At Audi, where there is much more of a German or Swiss work culture, plans are paramount. Without a plan, you cannot act.”
Not a Ferrari copy
Binotto made it clear that his move is not intended to turn Audi into a copy of Ferrari, but rather to achieve success with its own approach. When asked if he wanted to make Audi a superpower like Ferrari, he responded remarkably honestly. “Why would I do that? Ferrari hasn’t won anything since 2008,” he laughed cynically. “I just want Audi to win.” The former team principal admitted that his experiences at Ferrari did help him better understand the current project.
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“Before I left the Scuderia, I saw a few things,” he said mysteriously. “Because of that, I can make comparisons, but you can’t change things in one day.” That is why, according to Binotto, Audi is working with a clearly mapped out long-term plan to eventually fight for the world title. The manufacturer is first focusing on laying a solid foundation. “The plan is to build for three years and then consolidate for two years, to then fight for the title,” he explained. “We currently have at least fifty-seven projects with clearly defined, mandatory phases.”
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