Audi boss Nico Hülkenberg claims: “The team is like Ferrari in 1995”

Audi’s Grand Prix team scored points in three consecutive races before the summer break – with Gabriel Bortoleto finishing 8th at Silverstone and Spa, and Nico Hülkenberg finishing 9th at the Hungaroring.

Audi project manager Mattia Binotto took stock at the start of the second half of the season and told our colleagues at racingnews365: “If someone were to visit the race car facilities at Mercedes, Ferrari or McLaren and then come to us, they would realise that there is a gap, a clear difference.”

Audi-F1-Projektleiter Mattia Binotto

Foto: XPB

“Our buildings and our infrastructure are not on a par with those of the top teams, but that is nobody’s fault. It is a fact – after all, what ambitions did the former owner have? Today there is a gap, and we must close it.”

“We need to grow; we need more staff; we need more space for production; that’s why we’re looking into expansion plans, as this will be a decisive factor in our future success.”

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“When I joined the company, I took my inspiration from the 1995 Ferrari. It was an ageing, rather small factory with few staff and few established processes; so for me, the comparison really is between the 1995 Ferrari and the Ferrari of today.”

“I think that what we’ve done has been a step in the right direction; the team is improving and making progress, and there’s a lot going on in the factory that isn’t visible to the media or the fans. A lot is happening, and we’re laying the foundations for the future here; so I can confirm that the year 2030 is certainly an achievable target for us to be in the running for the title – that’s a realistic ambition.”