Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams has said she is disappointed Audi have decided not to enter Formula One in the foreseeable future.
Last week the man responsible for Audi’s technical development Stefan Knirsch claimed Audi’s focus on electric and hybrid technology would be more useful in the World Endurance Championship they already compete in instead of attempting a new formula. This came after the head of Motorsport for the Volkswagen Group Wolfgang Durheimer had claimed the unpredictable and unstable nature of Formula One’s regulations and politics discouraged him from allowing any of the brands Volkswagen controls from entering the sport.
Autosport.com asked Claire Williams what she thought of Audi’s plans to which she replied.
“It’s disappointing,”This is a sport where we would like to have the likes of Audi in it.
“This is a sport where we would like to have the likes of Audi in it.
“But they have other motorsport commitments. If F1 isn’t for them, it’s not for them.
“People have been trying to get Audi into F1 for decades and they haven’t changed their position.”
Claire Williams does not think the current political and regulation issues are to blame for Audi’s decision not to enter Formula One despite the very public disagreements between teams, FOM and the FIA over where the sport is heading and how it can be achieved.
“I don’t think we can blame it on the current political landscape of our sport,” she said.
“I’m sure there are lots of factors which come into their decision-making process as to why F1 isn’t for them.
“We’re lucky in this sport that we already have four of the world’s biggest manufacturers.
“Of course, we want to attract more but we have Ferrari, Daimler, Honda and Renault competing.
“There’s a fine balance between independent teams being able to survive if the sport is flooded by manufacturers.
“We need a healthy mix of manufacturers and independent teams.”
