Works Audi Deal ‘Dangerous’ For Sauber – Villeneuve

Sauber Motorsport Becomes Strategic Partner Of Audi
Showcar With Audi F1 Launch Livery
Sauber Motorsport Becomes Strategic Partner Of Audi
Showcar With Audi F1 Launch Livery

Jacques Villeneuve has expressed scepticism regarding Audi’s upcoming Formula 1 venture as a works team. The 1997 world champion, who is an avid supporter of the Volkswagen-owned German automaker—he recently acquired a custom-made, bright pink RS6—harbours reservations about Audi’s choice of partner. Specifically, Villeneuve isn’t feeling very enthusiastic about Audi’s collaboration with the Swiss team, Sauber, as they prepare to enter the Formula 1 arena…

“Well, they’re joining a team that hasn’t been any good for so many years,” the French Canadian told Sports Illustrated. “And you just can’t invent know-how. It’s something that you build over time.”

Villeneuve, who won his title for Williams, actually drove for Sauber towards the end of his F1 career – when the team was a privateer in 2005, and again in 2006 with works BMW backing and ownership.

And now, he questions whether Sauber’s new Audi foray will be any more successful.

“You can see it with Williams,” said the 53-year-old. “You know, they stay kind of good for a while, but you pay the price of pay drivers, of all that, and you pay it late.

“And then how are they (Audi) joining?” Villeneuve wonders. “Are they joining the same way Renault-Alpine joined just to be part of F1 and make some image or to actually be racers and try and go out and win. That, we don’t know.”

Villeneuve also says Sauber risks a repeat of its BMW days, when the carmaker suddenly decided to pull out of Formula 1 completely following a disappointing 2009 season.

Sauber then spent several seasons merely fighting for survival.

“What’s dangerous with constructors when they come in is they can easily in five minutes decide ‘ok, we’re gone, bye’ – they leave and they don’t care,” he said.

“They’re great for the sport, but they’re also very dangerous in that respect.”

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More in News

250530 Sfhp F1 R09 Spagna Ca R0915023 E47f5afb 8155 4d3f 9b20 0daac660dda8

Lewis Hamilton Asks Ferrari To Focus On 2026 Car

Lewis Hamilton thinks it may be time for Ferrari to ...
Arvid Lindblad

FIA Could Green-Light Arvid Lindblad For F1 Next Week

Arvid Lindblad could be on the Formula 1 grid soon. ...
2025 Spanish Grand Prix, Sunday - Toto Wolff (image courtesy Mercedes)

Angry Taxi Drivers Hit Back At Mercedes’ Toto Wolff

Italian taxi drivers have amusingly returned fire at Mercedes team ...
Was Crashgate A Real Thing? - Piquet Never Intended To 'Harm' Massa

Briatore ‘Never Spoke’ With Piquet About Crashgate

Flavio Briatore has reiterated his innocence some decade and a ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Abu Dhabi Practice

Verstappen Deserved FIA’s Spanish GP Slap – Marko

Dr Helmut Marko says Max Verstappen deserved to be penalised ...

Trending on F1 Chronicle