Binotto on McNish: Audi's New Racing Director is a 'Great Fit'

Allan McNish has joined Audi as the new Racing Director, stepping into a freshly created role following the abrupt departure of Jonathan Wheatley as Team Principal. Mattia Binotto, Audi's CEO and Team Principal, praised McNish as a 'great fit' and an 'easy plug-in' due to his deep-rooted experience with Audi and motorsport. McNish, a former Formula 1 driver for Toyota, has been a key player in Audi's motorsport ventures, both on and off the track.

McNish's extensive background includes heading Audi's Formula E team and managing their Driver Development Programme. His new role will see him overseeing sporting matters, engineering coordination, driver management, race strategy, and media relations, starting with the Miami Grand Prix.

During the Team Principals' press conference in Miami, Binotto elaborated on the decision: "Allan is a great person and knows Audi and racing well. His understanding of the driver's language and paddock dynamics makes him a perfect fit for us. I can fully trust him to represent the team at races when I am not present."

Binotto also reflected on Audi's nascent F1 journey, acknowledging the challenges but expressing satisfaction with their progress. The team has managed to earn two points, placing them eighth in the championship. "It's easy to make mistakes in F1, but as a new manufacturer, we're pleased with our progress," Binotto remarked, noting the significant performance gap to top competitors. He stressed the importance of a strategic development plan to enhance their power unit and overall performance.

Audi's ambitious F1 project, transitioning from Sauber, faces the typical hurdles of a new team, but Binotto remains optimistic about their long-term goals. "There's a big gap to close, but we're focused on our development plan," he concluded, highlighting the team's commitment to growth and improvement.