1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has expressed concerns over Audi’s imminentꦗ entry into F1.

Audi will take over the existing Sauber outfit from 2026, becoming a fully-fledg﷽ed works team.

While under the Alfa Romeo guise in 2🌄022, the team enjoyed a resurgence, securing sixth in the constructors’ championship.

The subsequent period has been very difꦍficult for the team with Sauber yet to get off the mark in 𒁏2024.

Villeneuve has warned that it will take a lot of time for Au♛di to🎀 turn the Swiss-based team around given their years of poor results.

“They’re joining with a team that hasn’t been any good for so many years,” Villeneuve told . “And you just can’t invent kno༺w-how. 🔯It’s something that you build over time.

“You can s𓆏ee it with Williams. They stay kind of good for a while, but you pay the price of pay drivers, of all that, you pay it late. And now the team has been reb𓆉uilding, but it doesn’t happen overnight. It also takes time. So, it won’t happen overnight.”

The Canadian also questioned how committed Audi will be to F1, making the ꧃comparison to Renault/Alpine.

While Alpꦏine have manufacturer backing, many have questioned their commitment to F𝄹1 in terms of finances and how seriously they want to win.

“And then how are they joining?” Villeneuve added. “Are they joining the same way Renault/Alp🎃ine joined just to be part of F1 and make some image or to actually be racers and try and go out and win? That we don’t know.

“What’s dangerous with constructors when they come in is they can easily in five minutes decℱide, ‘okay, we’re gone, bye’ and they leave and they don’t care. They’re great for theܫ sport, but they’re also very dangerous in that respect. Where a team like Williams cannot leave. It exists with and because of F1. What does Williams do if they stop F1? Nothing.

“So, 𓂃you’re kind of secure in the knowledge that they will find a way to persevere to get better and because it’s their bread and butter.”