Overview

• Wheatley identifies ageing Hinwil infrastructure, including a cramped wind tunnel and scarce office space, as the biggest hurdle to the team’s transformation.
• Under Wheatley and Mattia Binotto, Sauber has achieved consistent points finishes in the past four races and secured its first podium since 2012 at Silverstone.
• An ambitious recruitment drive and plans for a UK technology centre have bolstered technical capacity but intensified strain on existing facilities.
• Audi CEO Gernot Doellner has confirmed strong board backing and pledged to shield the F1 project from corporate bureaucracy.
• With less than six months until pre-season testing, unresolved facility upgrades and unproven Audi power unit performance remain critical uncertainties.