A big problem with Audi’s plan to enter Formula 1 has been i☂dentified.

Sauber are into their final year before they will evolve into the Audi works team fr🧜om 2026 onwards, representing the huge German manufacturer’s entryꦛ.

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

“Since he signed, the CEO has changed. Andreas Seidl broug﷽ht 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 par🦩ticularly smoothly, in terms of the tranꦅsition to Audi.

“I hope this is a year for Sa🍒uber, their last in F1, where they h𒈔ave a better year.”

Big Audi F1 problem explained

Crofty explained the crucial issue wh🌜ich has gone largely unnoticed.

“One of the problems that the Audi proj꧅ect has🐭 is the location,” he explained.

“Hinwil, as spectacular as Switzerland is, is not a great place to attract staff to. Switzerland is expensive, and you’re uprooting pඣeople.

“They arওe now an🔜nouncing that they need a base in the UK to make better use of talent.

“I am surpris🍷e♋d that didn’t happen two years ago. Surprised it wasn’t on the radar.

“Persuading people to move♛ to Switzerland, to uproot their families, is not an easy thing to do.

“Getting the right people in is half the battle.

“We don’t know how good, or not, their engine will be. But there’s pressure on Audi to not be a back of𝓰 the g🦹rid team.

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

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

Last y๊ear, Sauber had the worst ca🌟r on the F1 grid.

Drivers Guanyu Zhou and Valtteri Bottas paid the price by losing theꦜir race seats.

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