Ex-Formula 1 Race Winner Warns Audi Against Expecting Immediate Success
Ex-Formula 1 race winner Gerhard Berger has sounded a warning to Audi, cautioning the German marque against expecting immediate success when it enters the sport in 2026. According to Berger, Audi should draw lessons from Red Bull’s Formula 1 journey, which took several years to yield race wins despite the team’s significant resources. Berger’s remarks come as Audi prepares to take over Sauber and enter Formula 1 as a works manufacturer, with the reset to technical regulations offering a level playing field.
Berger, a 10-time Formula 1 race winner, pointed out that Red Bull’s entrance into the sport in 2005 was marked by several barren years before the team eventually became a race-winning side. “You should not underestimate a debut in the highest motorsport class,” Berger told German outlet BILD. “It requires patience on the way to the top and few mistakes.” Berger recalled his experience with Red Bull, saying, “I remember Red Bull, which I was quite close to at the time. Despite the arrival of Adrian Newey, for example, a lot of mistakes were made and it took six years before they were a winning team.”
Audi’s CEO, Andreas Seidl, has already set high expectations, stating that the manufacturer is entering Formula 1 to “fight for victories and titles.” However, Berger has reiterated that such aspirations take time to achieve, citing Ferrari’s experience at the beginning of this century. “Audi has the resources and the great advantage that they are already involved with Sauber in the background,” Berger said. “But in my opinion, it is going to take at least five years before they will be up [the] front. Look at Ferrari at the beginning of this century. Despite Michael Schumacher and the ideal setup of Jean Todt, Ross Brawn, and Rory Byrne, that team needed five years before they started winning world titles.”
Sauber’s current on-track competitiveness in 2024 highlights the task facing Audi, with the Swiss outfit being the only team on the grid not to score in the first nine rounds. Despite this, the Sauber/Audi project has already made significant strides, securing Nico Hulkenberg from Haas for 2025 and targeting Carlos Sainz for the other seat. However, Sainz is also in talks with Williams as he considers his post-Ferrari prospects.
“You should not underestimate a debut in the highest motorsport class. It requires patience on the way to the top and few mistakes.” – Gerhard Berger
As Formula 1 fans eagerly await Audi’s entry into the sport, Berger’s words of caution serve as a reminder that success in the highest echelon of motorsport is not achieved overnight. With the 2026 Formula 1 calendar set to feature Audi as a works manufacturer, fans will be watching closely to see how the German marque fares in its debut season. For now, Berger’s warning serves as a reality check, underscoring the importance of patience and perseverance in the pursuit of Formula 1 glory.
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