In Formula 1, every lap tells a story. And the last few laps have been humming with whispers about Sauber-Audi’s 2026 plans. Roger Benoit, a Swiss journalist with deep ties to the sport and particularly close to the Hinwil-based team (currently known as Alfa Romeo), dismisses these as mere distractions.
Benoit’s recent column in Blick newspaper during the US GP in Austin laid it out candidly. While the rumor mill has been spinning tales of Audi potentially pulling out or even transitioning the project to Porsche, Benoit suggests otherwise. “Suddenly, rumours have emerged – especially from France – that Audi is withdrawing again,” he penned, noting the irony, “Even though the Germans already own 25 percent of Sauber and the team is being expanded with new people every day.”
These rumblings, according to him, are fueled less by facts and more by envy. Benoit points out that Sauber-Audi’s aggressive recruitment strategy, which offers higher salaries to lure talent, hasn’t won them many friends. “Anyone who snatches people away from other teams…will logically create enemies among all the teams,” he observed. This sentiment is echoed in the “mental unrest and uncertainty” stemming from these baseless speculations.
Andreas Seidl, the new team CEO, has been at the forefront, navigating these challenging times – albeit absent from the actual circuits. Benoit reveals that Seidl has no doubt been inundated with calls concerning the swirling rumors. Yet, Seidl remains steadfast, reassuring everyone that the direction remains unchanged. However, Benoit emphasizes the need for clearer communication, “Seidl must now provide clarity to the outside world.” This is crucial as Seidl’s track presence in 2023 has been limited, with Alessandro Alunni Bravi stepping in with the odd title as ‘team representative’.
For the fans, Benoit offers a mix of realism and hope. While they’ll have to rally behind drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu in 2024, due to a lack of decent alternative options, the anticipation of Audi’s engine not too far beyond that promises a shift in fortunes. Capturing the long-standing sentiment of Sauber loyalists, Benoit closes: “This is how Sauber fans have been living for many years now.”
