‘I can fully trust him’ – Binotto opens up on why Audi opted for ‘great fit’ McNish as new Racing Director

Audi F1 CEO and Team Principal Mattia Binotto has given some more background on the squad’s decision to install former Formula 1 driver Allan McNish as their Racing Director, describing him as an “easy plug-in” and a “great fit”.

McNish, who contested the 2002 Formula 1 season for Toyota, has long been involved in Audi’s motorsport activities – enjoying huge success with them as a driver in sportscars and playing a key off-track role in their F1 project from the start.

He takes on the aforementioned Racing Director title following Jonathan Wheatley’s sudden exit as Team Principal just two rounds into the 2026 season, and will report directly to Binotto.

McNish previously served as Team Principal of Audi’s Formula E operation, spent time coordinating Audi Group Motorsport’s activities and most recently headed up their Driver Development Programme, which he will combine with his new duties.

Starting from this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, the 56-year-old Scot has oversight of sporting matters, engineering coordination, driver management, race strategy and garage operations, as well as on-track media and partner activities.

Asked about McNish’s new role during Friday’s Team Principals’ press conference at the Miami International Autodrome, Binotto said: “Allan, first, is a great person. He’s been a great driver. He knows Audi very well. He knows racing, what it’s about. He understands the driver’s language.

“He know what it means being on the pit wall, not only because he has been a driver, but he has been a Team Principal in Formula E. He knows the paddock, the journalists, he’s well involved with all our partners, so I think it was an easy decision and a great fit.

“For me, overall, it’s important to have him at the race track, being Racing Director. I can fully trust him because of his experience. He was an easy plug-in, in our organisation. I’m not there at all races, so he is the one who will represent the team when being on track.

“He will do very well, I have no doubt. He has proven in the past his capabilities. I think he’s already enjoying it. I saw him on the pit wall with a smile, even through a messy [Free Practice 1] session, so that’s a good start.”

Binotto also took a moment to review the start of Audi’s debut season in F1, and the task that lies ahead of himself and McNish – the German manufacturer having scored two points so far to sit eighth out of 11 teams in the championship standings.

“For us it has been a new start, as well as a project, the Audi F1 project, from Sauber to Audi, and it’s brand-new regulations,” added Binotto. “I have to say overall we are pleased with what we have achieved so far.

“It’s very easy to make things wrong in F1, and you can see around us other teams have more difficulties. As a brand-new team, brand-new manufacturer, we are pleased. Pleased doesn’t mean to be satisfied, there is much to come, and our ambition is very high – our long-term ambition is very high.

“When we look at the performance on track, still there is a big gap to the top competitors. It’s not a surprise, as the top competitors are very strong organisations, well established organisations, and we know that in order to close that gap there is a lot that needs to be done. People, team size, infrastructures, capabilities, tools…

“But when assessing the performance on track, then I think the most obvious is the gap we’ve got on the power unit, which again for us is not a surprise. It was expected, being a brand-new engine manufacturer.

“We’ve got plans ahead, it’s not a matter of being desperate – [quite] the opposite. I think it’s assessing where we are, a big, huge gap, we believe. But we’ve got a plan of development for the future, and we’re focused on that.”