Audi F1 Unconcerned About Competing with Cadillac for Important Positions

      Audi

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      Audi is in a race against time to assemble a staff of over 500, establish three facilities across different countries, and implement new procedures as it prepares for its Formula 1 debut in just 113 days. When that moment arrives, Audi won't be the only newcomer on the starting grid; Cadillac, America's newest F1 team, will join the fray, eager to make an impact. Both organizations have been dedicating considerable time and resources to real estate, facility construction, personnel recruitment, and material acquisition.

      The limited pool of talent and suppliers in F1 means that having two teams pursue similar resources at the same time may lead to complications—even though Audi’s entry is more of a transition from Sauber rather than starting anew like Cadillac.

      During an interview with Audi F1 Team leaders Jonathan Wheatley and Mattia Binotto at the R26 reveal in Munich, The Drive learned that Audi is not worried about competing with Cadillac for talent or resources. Instead, it is adopting a distinct strategy focused on recruiting young, fresh talent from outside the F1 bubble, prioritizing the long-term sustainability of the organization over poaching existing personnel.

      “Cadillac is taking a completely different strategic route by starting from the ground up, setting up in Silverstone to be closer to other F1 teams,” Binotto explained to The Drive. “In contrast, we’ve chosen to invest in Sauber in Switzerland, which I believe will give us a competitive edge in the future. We are committed to attracting the right new talent and ensuring that our current employees remain with us."

      "What I see is that Cadillac is hiring from other teams, which may be beneficial, but our strategy is entirely different," he continued. "It might take us longer to build our team, but we are dedicated to investing in and developing our people, putting a lot of effort and time into this process.”

      “We are investing in our future and in young talent coming from various universities through the programs we have created. We are consistently recruiting private candidates from top schools around the globe, and we are collaborating with one of the best universities in Switzerland alongside the Sauber Academy for engineering students,” Binotto stated.

      Wheatley, who has two decades of experience at Red Bull Racing and played a key role in building a championship-winning team known for record pit stops, will assume the role of Audi F1 Team Principal once the transition occurs on January 1. His expertise and positive team culture, combined with Binotto’s experiences from Ferrari, will be crucial as the team begins its journey.

      “In a contemporary F1 team, it’s essential to concentrate on various facets of the organization, such as talent acquisition, while fostering a culture that strives for championships and embraces the mindset that winning is standard,” Wheatley shared with The Drive.

      Following Audi's announcement, a substantial number of Sauber’s existing personnel have been replaced in a staffing review. While the team's leadership brings decades of experience from other teams, many of the newcomers come from diverse areas of motorsport, including rally and sports car racing. This focus on fresh talent is also reflected in the driver lineup, featuring 21-year-old Gabriel Bortoleto racing alongside seasoned F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg, who is 38 years old.

      As The Drive’s F1 correspondent, Olivia Hicks noted, while Cadillac opted for maximum experience by hiring two of the sport's most experienced drivers, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, it has also brought in former Marussia team principal Graeme Lowdon and F1 veteran Pat Symonds as an executive engineering consultant, who has collaborated with prominent figures in F1 since 1979, including Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.

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