Binotto: Audi driver links prove project 'credibility'

Audi Formula 1 chief Mattia Binotto believes speculation linking rival drivers to the team validates the Ingolstadt project as a "credible" contender. Speaking exclusively ahead of the summer break, he dismissed links to Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri and backed his current pairing of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg.

Why it matters:

Audi's debut works season has already surpassed modest expectations. The team has scored in four races and climbed to eighth in the constructors' standings, overtaking Williams. For a manufacturer targeting a 2030 title bid, interest from established drivers signals the paddock is taking the project seriously.

The details:

• Driver loyalty: Binotto rejected rumors linking Sainz and Piastri, stressing that Bortoleto and Hulkenberg are "two very fast drivers" rather than merely a youth-experience pairing.
• Season snapshot: Bortoleto scored on debut in Australia, while Hulkenberg added points in Britain, Belgium, and Hungary. Six 11th-place finishes show the team is consistently on the cusp of more.
• Chassis strength: Bortoleto hailed the R-26 chassis as among the best on the grid after Austria, though the in-house power unit remains the weak link. Improvements are expected through the ADUO program.
• Sainz connection: The Spaniard held serious talks with Audi in 2024 after losing his Ferrari seat to Lewis Hamilton, making renewed speculation understandable even as Binotto backs his current duo.

What's next:

Audi is targeting race wins and the world championship by 2030. The immediate priority is unlocking power unit gains through ADUO to match the R-26's promising chassis. Sustaining this season's form would lay the foundation for a genuine long-term assault on the front of the grid.