Bottas sounds 'big worry' chassis alarm for Audi's 2026 F1 entry
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Outgoing Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas has flagged the Swiss outfit's chassis development as his "biggest worry" for Audi's upcoming F1 endeavor.
Next season will mark Sauber's final transition year in F1 ahead of Audi's official entry into the sport in 2026. While the German automotive giant's involvement has generated a lot of excitement, Sauber's mediocre results are seen as a cause for concern.
Audi's entry coincides with a sweeping overhaul of F1's technical regulations for 2026, which introduces new aerodynamic prescriptions and significant changes to power unit designs.
While the manufacturer's investment in its Neuburg facility positions it to be competitive on the engine front, Bottas emphasized how the chassis side of Audi-Sauber's operations remains a big vulnerability.
"It's going to be a big challenge, of course, and they know it," Bottas predicted, quoted by Motorsport Week.
"[Audi] know it. I think they've been focusing on the power unit side for a long time, invested a lot, so they can do a good job, for sure.
"But all the other teams and engine manufacturers, they've been in the sport for a long, long time. But [Audi has] the resources, the potential.
"My biggest worry is the chassis, it's not made by Audi, it's still made by Sauber. So, the chassis side definitely needs it's an improvement."
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The path to Audi's entry into F1 has been anything but smooth for Sauber. Since the former first announced its partnership with the latter in 2022, the Hinwil-based squad has undergone a series of high-profile leadership changes.
Former team principal Fred Vasseur departed for Ferrari in 2023, followed by technical director Jan Monchaux, who left for the FIA a year later.
Audi also made internal changes, replacing CEO Markus Duesmann with Gernot Döllner in 2023. More recently, CEO Andreas Seidl and Audi's Chief Development Officer Oliver Hoffmann were replaced by Mattia Binotto, Ferrari's former team principal.
Bottas described the upheaval at Sauber as a "mess" but noted that stability is finally starting to emerge.
"Well, lots of people have changed," commented the Finn. "Lots of people have got sacked, lots of people have joined in different roles, so there's been lots of rotation, and to find that stability, how the team has been structured, it has taken time.
"Now it's finally starting to shape up, but initially it was quite a mess, with people leaving and people joining."
Another persistent issue for Sauber is staff recruitment. Based in Switzerland, the team faces higher costs of living compared to rival operations in countries like the UK and Italy, making it difficult to attract top-tier engineering talent.
To address this, F1 and the FIA have granted cost-cap relief to balance out the disadvantages of operating in Switzerland. Bottas welcomed this measure but noted that creating positive momentum within the team is just as crucial for attracting the right people.
"I hope they find a solution," he said. "And I think the latest modifications to the budget cap rules for different countries, that's going to help Sauber a bit.
"But, yeah, if they get some positive momentum, then people are more keen to join. But at the moment, it's been a challenging start for the brand."
Sauber CTO and COO Mattia Binotto in Qatar with Audi chief executive Gernot Döllner.
Despite the challenges, Audi's vast resources and commitment to its F1 project offer reasons for optimism.
However, Bottas's remarks highlight the uphill battle Sauber faces in ensuring the team can deliver a competitive chassis to complement Audi's expected power unit performance.
As Audi's takeover takes full effect in 2025, the clock is ticking for Sauber to resolve its structural weaknesses and transform into a team capable of delivering success on F1's biggest stage.
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