'Binotto unimpressed by offer and tour from Audi'

After the rumour that Mattia Binotto turned down Alpine's offer to become team boss there, another rumour is already surfacing, as the Italian was reportedly interviewed by Audi executives. To this, Binotto did not seem particularly pleased, and that is putting it mildly.

The Italian engineer seemed unimpressed by the Audi base in Germany, which was not remotely like what Ferrari had in Maranello. The ex-Ferrari team boss even referred to Audi's managers in Neuburg as "clowns" in his private messages, Business F1 reports.

Audi has invested more than $200,000,000 in their F1 project and in a new base in Germany. The German carmaker has also hired 300 staff to make a grand entrance into Formula 1.

Audi would like to see Binotto as their F1 team boss when they enter the sport in 2026. Binotto reportedly met with Audi executives in which he was given a tour of their base in Neuburg.