GERMANY: Volkswagen Group announced their intention for their Audi brand to join Formula 1, a long time ago. Since then, the attention had turned towards their entry into the pinnacle of motorsports, with the common conception being that they would partner with one of the existing teams since Formula One Management wasn’t keen on having an additional team.
It has been confirmed that the German brand will join Formula One in 2026 as a partner of the Sauber team. 2026 is the year that a new generation of Formula One power units is set to be introduced.
The engine will run on fully sustainable biofuel while the Motor Generator Unit-Heat (MGU-H), which converts the heat from the exhaust into electrical power, will be discontinued.
Audi has confirmed that the 2026 Formula One power unit will be created in Neuburg, Audi’s Motorsport Competence Centre, with the preparations for their specially founded Audi Formula Racing GmbH “proceeding as planned.”
According to Audi, 120 employees are already working on the project, and “the expansion of the Neuburg facility in terms of personnel, buildings, and technical infrastructure is expected to be largely in place in 2023.”
The Audi power unit is planned to be trialled in a Formula One test car in 2025. Sauber will compete as an Audi factory team with an Audi power unit.
The car will be manufactured and developed at Sauber’s Hinwll base headquarters, with Sauber also being responsible for the planning and execution of race operations.
The deal is said to be different from Sauber’s current partnership with Alfa Romeo in the sense that Audi is actively working on purchasing a stake in the Sauber Group.
Alfa Romeo doesn’t own a stake in Sauber, but the team races under the Alfa Romeo name and branding. Sauber’s deal with Alfa Romeo is set to conclude after the 2023 season.
Audi had previously used Sauber’s wind tunnel as a part of their DTM and Le Mans programmes.
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