Jordan fears the worst for Audi: 'That's a fundamental mistake'

The former team boss knows what it takes to set up his own Formula 1 team. The now 76-year-old founded Jordan Grand Prix in 1991 and had drivers such as Michael and Ralf Schumacher, and Damon Hill compete for him. The team itself remains on the grid today as it has morphed into the Silverstone-based Aston Martin via various different guises, including Force India.

What are Audi's fundamental mistakes, according to Jordan?

Jordan finds it very hard to understand why Audi are not running the team in England. “I have a question mark over Audi full stop. You [David Coulthard] and I are particularly good friends with McNish, with Alan, and we wish him well there. But that's a big, big task he's taken on. A big operation to build a car, to run it out of Switzerland, to run it out of with German people, German manufacturing. Oh, my God," Jordan said on his Formula For Success Podcast.

“When did you last see a Swiss or a German team win a world title? We saw what Toyota did. They came and they tried to do it that way and it didn't work. There is no better way to run a race car than through Britain and particularly in that area of Northampton, Oxfordshire and various other places. They just got such a wealth of knowledge. They've just got such a mindset of being able to win or to achieving or to getting the best.”

Jordan then explained why it would be different in Switzerland. “Whereas, you go out and you order a piece of machinery to be done in Switzerland. They'll give you a timeline of maybe lead in maybe four days, four weeks, four months. And there's nothing you can do. Whereas if you're in the UK, you will just sit on top of that supplier and say, if you don't do this, you just don't get any more work. They'll work night and day to get it done. That's the philosophy that there is a racing culture. It's in the DNA. And I think what Audi are doing is fundamentally wrong.”

Jordan went on to highlight the magnitude of the situation at the team they are taking over. With Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, Sauber are yet to score a point in the 2024 Formula 1 season. They sit at the bottom of the World Championship. 

“I adore Peter Sauber as a person, but nice people don't win anything. It must be a big embarrassment for him to be the only team without a point," he added.

Audi has made strides over the last few days in its preparations for 2026. First, Mattia Binotto was announced as joining the team. Since the podcast was recorded, Audi has taken further steps by signing Jonathan Wheatley as their Team Principal. Wheatley will soon leave Red Bull Racing after an 18 year stay.