Former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley has praised Audi’s Formula 1 power unit headquarters, describing the German manufacturer’s engine department as “second to none”.
Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast with host Jake Humphrey and former Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer, Smedley assessed the progress made across the F1 grid during the first half of the season.
Audi has faced a steep learning curve since taking over the Sauber operation and entering Formula 1 as a works team. However, Smedley highlighted the scale and quality of the manufacturer’s investment in its powertrain programme.
“Sauber, I mean, they were pretty desperate these last two or three years. They were just awful, there’s no other word for it,”
the former engineer said.
Szafnauer argued that Audi already owned the team at that stage, meaning it had strong financial backing and decent infrastructure. Smedley responded by pointing to the company’s facilities in Germany.
“They’ve always had a very good wind tunnel, or have for a long time. But now, if you look at their facility in Germany, the engine facility, the power unit facility, that is second to none, and they’re still building and still going on it.
Photo by: Eric Le Galliot
“So, this is a huge project for them. Hinwil as a Formula 1 facility leaves maybe a little bit to be desired. But they’re expanding that, and there are plans of where they want to go with it. So, this is a really important project for them.”
Audi retained Sauber’s 2025 driver line-up of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. After 12 rounds of the 2026 season, the team is eighth in the constructors’ championship with 16 points.
Bortoleto is 14th in the drivers’ standings with 10 points, while Hulkenberg is 15th with six points.
The 13th round of the season, the Italian Grand Prix, will be held at Monza from 4-6 September.
Source: www.motorsport.com
