Audi Has the Fourth Best Chassis and Will Close Engine Gap in 2028, Says Mattia Binotto

Mattia Binotto believes Audi’s early 2026 data shows a far stronger chassis than results suggest, but admits the team’s power unit remains the biggest obstacle to unlocking its full potential.

Audi’s first Formula 1 season is already revealing two very different stories. On one side, Mattia Binotto believes the team’s chassis is among the strongest in the midfield. On the other, the German manufacturer still has a significant engine deficit to overcome.

According to Binotto, GPS data from the opening rounds of the 2026 season suggests Audi has the fourth best chassis on the grid. That is a bold claim for a manufacturer still in the early phase of its Formula 1 project, but it also explains why the team remains confident despite uneven results.

Audi believes its chassis performance is already stronger than the final classification often suggests, with the power unit currently masking part of the car’s potential. Based on Mattia Binotto’s comments reported by Motorsport.com

A Strong Chassis Hidden by Engine Limitations

Binotto’s assessment is important because it separates Audi’s performance problem into two parts. The chassis, according to the team’s internal analysis, is not the main weakness. The bigger limitation is the power unit, which remains behind the leading engines in the new regulatory cycle.

That distinction matters. If the car’s aerodynamic and mechanical platform is genuinely competitive, Audi’s long-term ceiling could be much higher than its current race results indicate. The challenge is to reduce the engine deficit quickly enough to turn promising data into points, podiums and eventually regular front-running form.

Why 2028 Is the Target

Binotto has made clear that closing the engine gap by 2027 is unlikely. Instead, Audi is targeting 2028 as the realistic point at which its power unit can move closer to the best in Formula 1.

That timeline reflects the complexity of modern power unit development. Under Formula 1’s current regulatory framework, major progress is possible, but it requires time, correlation, reliability work and efficient development planning. Audi is building not only an engine, but a complete works structure around it.

• Audi’s GPS data suggests the chassis is already highly competitive.
• The power unit remains the biggest performance limitation.
• Binotto does not expect the engine gap to be fully closed in 2027.
• 2028 is viewed as the realistic target for a stronger engine package.
• The team’s long-term ambition remains to become a championship-level operation.

A Long-Term Project, Not a Quick Fix

Audi’s arrival in Formula 1 was never going to be judged properly after only a handful of races. The project is one of the most ambitious transformations on the grid, combining Sauber’s existing base with a full manufacturer-backed programme.

Binotto’s role is central to that process. Since taking control of Audi’s F1 project and assuming additional team principal responsibilities after Jonathan Wheatley’s departure, he has repeatedly stressed the need to build the team methodically rather than chase short-term headlines.

The real test for Audi is not whether it can produce one strong result in 2026, but whether it can build a structure capable of improving season after season. F1LiveUpdates analysis

Why the Fourth-Best Chassis Claim Matters

In Formula 1, GPS data is one of the tools teams use to estimate relative performance across different parts of a lap. It can help identify whether a car is losing time on straights, in braking zones, through slow corners or in high-speed sections.

If Audi’s data shows the chassis ranking fourth, it suggests the car may be producing competitive cornering performance even while losing time in power-sensitive areas. That would be encouraging for the team because engine performance can be developed over time, while a poor chassis concept can be much harder to rescue.

The Risk Behind the Optimism

There is still reason for caution. Formula 1 teams often use internal data to understand their true potential, but the stopwatch remains the final judge. A strong chassis claim only becomes meaningful when it translates into race weekends.

Audi must also avoid allowing the engine gap to define too much of its early identity. If the deficit remains too large for too long, development momentum, driver confidence and strategic flexibility can all suffer.

That is why 2028 already looks like a crucial milestone. It may be the season when Audi’s chassis work and power unit development finally meet at the same level.

Audi’s Future Depends on Converting Potential

Binotto’s comments offer a clear message: Audi believes the foundation is better than the results currently show. The team sees chassis performance as a positive sign, while the engine remains the area demanding the biggest gains.

If Audi is right, the project may be more advanced than it appears from the outside. But Formula 1 does not reward potential for long. The next step is turning encouraging GPS data into visible competitive progress.

For now, Audi’s 2026 season is a balancing act between patience and urgency. The chassis may already be promising. The engine now has to catch up.