Rob Smedley, former Ferrari engineer, highlighted Audi’s dedicated power unit structure in Formula 1 and described the German manufacturer’s facility as “unparalleled.” The assessment was made during the High Performance Racing podcast, analyzing the teams’ performance in the first half of the season.
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Audi took over Sauber’s operation and began competing as a factory team, but is still going through an adaptation phase. For Smedley, however, the investment made in the engine area shows the scale of the project and the manufacturer’s ambition for the coming years.
Commenting on Sauber’s former situation, the engineer was critical. “Sauber was in a desperate situation in the last two or three years. It was simply very bad, there is no other way to say it,” he said. Then, when addressing Audi’s facilities in Germany, he completely changed his tone.
“If you look at their structure in Germany, the engine facility, the power unit, it is unparalleled. And they are still building and expanding,” Smedley highlighted. According to him, the project also involves improvements at the Hinwil headquarters, which still has areas to be developed. “There are plans for where they want to go. So, this is a really important project for them.”
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Audi retained Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, the duo who already defended Sauber in 2025. After 12 rounds of the 2026 season, the team is in eighth place in the constructors’ championship, with 16 points.
Among the drivers, Bortoleto is in 14th place, with ten points, while Hülkenberg is 15th, with six. The next round will be the Italian GP, the 13th round of the championship, held in Monza from September 4 to 6.
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