F1: Audi decision disappointing - Williams

Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams says it is disappointing Audi has decided Formula 1 is not on its agenda.

Stefan Knirsch, a board member responsible for technical development said Audi's focus on electric and hybrid technology was better served in the World Endurance Championship.

It followed head of motorsport for Audi's parent company the Volkswagen Group Wolfgang Durheimer dismissing F1's sporting and political situation as "not predictable enough" to justify any of his brands entering.

"It's disappointing," Williams said. "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."

F1's engine regulations are currently in a state of flux with the manufacturers working towards a way forward on cost, performance, noise and supply of power units. But Williams does not believe the uncertainty was the sole reason for Audi choosing not to enter F1.

"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."

Originally on Autosport.com