A big problem with Audi’s pl🧸an to enter Formula 1 has been identified.

Sauber 🅷are into their final year before they will evolve into the Audi works team from 2026 onwards, representing the huge German manufacturer’s entry.

But there is an ongoing issue behind-the-scenes which has hindered them, it has been claimed, despite the signing of Haas driver🉐 Nico Hulkenberg.

“Since he sig𓆏ned, the CEO hasꦿ changed. Andreas Seidl brought him in,” Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft said.

“They are without a team principal until April.

“From everything you hear it’s not going particularl🦩y smoothly, in terms of the transition to Audi.

“I hope this is a year f🧜or Sauber, their last in F1, where they have a better year.”

Big Audi F1 problem explained

Crofty explained the crucial issue which has gon𝄹e largely unnoticed.

“One👍 🐓of the problems that the Audi project has is the location,” he explained.

“Hinwil, as spectacular as Switzerland is, is not a great place to attra꧃ct staff to. Switzerland is expensive, and you’re uprooting people.

“They are now announci📖ng that they need a base in the UK to make betteꦦr use of talent.

“I am surprised that didn’t ꦆhappen two years ago. Surprised it wasn’t on the radar.

“Persuading people to𝓀 move to Switzerland, to uproot their familie🐼s, is not an easy thing to do.

“Getting the right people in is half the battle.

“We don’t know how goo𒁃d, or not, their engine will be. But there’s pressure🃏 on Audi to not be a back of the grid team.

“Hulkenberg, I hope his experience and ability to develop a car, will be a massive asset to that𝄹 team.

“Gabriel Bortoleto is a good choice alongside him. He’s a fine driver who will attract 🅰sponsorship from Brazil.”

La𒈔st year, Sauber had the worst car on the F1 grid.

Drivers Guanyu Zhou and Valtteri Bottas paid the pric♕e by losing ꦇtheir race seats.

The arrival of Hulkenberg and Bortoleto will rejuvenate their garage but the competitiveness of the👍ir package remains a question mark.