Audi team boss Wheatley declares new F1 team 'is not here to mess around'

20:02, 20 Jan

Updated: 22:01, 20 Jan

byDrew Murphy

Audi team boss Jonathan Wheatley, alongside the CTO and COO of the Audi project Mattia Binotto, explained that Audi are not here to just 'mess around' in Formula 1.

"I think we're not here to mess around. We have a journey, it's an ambitious journey and we're humble, we know where we're starting from but we know where we want to go and we want to get this team ready."

- Jonathan Wheatley

Wheatley, who spent over 20 years at Red Bull, finds himself at the helm of the German manufacturer’s ambitious project.

The Briton said at the launch event where GPblog was present: "We’ve been talking about the future Audi Formula 1 team or the Audi Formula 1 project. And tonight it becomes real. It becomes the Audi Revolut Formula One team.

"And it feels for all of us that have been on this journey, I haven't been on it quite as long as Mattia, for everyone in the factory, the pride in the factory, it's such an exciting time and it's a historic moment and we're just glad that we can share it with so many of you."

Jonathan Wheatley - Photo: Audi Revolut F1 Team Content Hub

He added: "I think we're not here to mess around. We have a journey, it's an ambitious journey and we're humble, we know where we're starting from but we know where we want to go and we want to get this team ready.

"We want Audi Formula 1 team to be the most successful Formula 1 team in history, but we have to start where we are and there's a journey. There are measurable milestones on that journey and we're excited to start it and we're starting it today."

The highly respected team boss is joined at Audi alongside ex-Ferrari team principal Binotto.

Mattia Binotto - Photo: Audi Revolut F1 Team Content Hub

Binotto is responsible for the development activities at the Hinwil and Neuburg an der Donau facilities, as well as at the technical centre in Oxfordshire, England.

Binotto said: "It’s a lot of pride. It's a lot of excitement. No doubt it has been a lot of work for the entire team to be prepared, to be somehow to have a car ready, a car developed, but a team to be built."

He added: "We are just at the beginning of our journey. It's a starting point. We are conscious that there are a lot of challenges ahead of us. But as well, I think on the other side, we are ready for it. We are ready to face the challenge. We are ready to grow, to build, and to continue to learn."

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