According to him, it will be crucial for boosting brand value and serving as another means of outshining the competitors in terms of technology.
He stated that Porsche in particular would reduce other racing endeavors in order to concentrate on Formula 1.
The choice was also impacted by the upcoming 2026 season’s new engine restrictions for Formula 1.
On a medium-sized race circuit, Diess remarked, “you normally make up one second per season just by optimizing minutiae, as [Audi chairman] Markus Duesman always tells me.
You need five or ten years to be among the front-runners, so you can’t make up that time when you join a new squad. To put it another way, you can only join if there is a significant rule change.
Diess also stated that the Volkswagen Group would probably have to wait an additional 10 years for a similar opportunity if it didn’t join Formula One at this time.
That is already happening, and it will also happen by 2026, when engines will be considerably more electrified, even with synthetic fuels, he said. “That means you require the development of a new engine, which will take three to four years.
That means you can choose to participate in Formula 1 right now or not for the next ten years. And our two premium brands are giving it top priority because they believe it to be the right thing to do.
It’s unclear how Audi and Porsche will participate in Formula 1. Both Porsche and Audi have denied any partnership or acquisition, despite rumors linking them to Red Bull Racing and McLaren, respectively.
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Porsche and Audi will join F1 in 2026, according to Volkswagen CEO
How the two brands will work with already active Formula 1 teams is still unclear.
When new rules are adopted in 2026, according to the CEO of Volkswagen, the company’s Porsche and Audi brands will start racing in Formula 1.
Formula 1 is trying to lure new manufacturers, most notably VW, to join its existing pool as it introduces altered engine regulations starting in 2026. The 10 teams on the grid are currently supported by powertrains from Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault, and Red Bull.
The 2026 regulations’ basic structure has been established for some time. The little particulars are still being arranged. Officials from VW have already stated that the firm was anticipating that time.
For the first time, Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess stated in a question-and-answer session posted on YouTube on Monday that the company’s two premium brands will compete in Formula 1 starting in 2026. Diess cited the expansion of Formula 1 in important areas like the United States and China, the increased interest of younger viewers, and the possibility presented by the engine regulations of 2026.
How the two companies will collaborate with current Formula 1 teams is still unclear.
Red Bull Powertrains, which was established for 2022 in order for Red Bull’s two teams—Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri—to continue using Honda’s powertrains after the Japanese manufacturer’s official exit, has been strongly linked to a partnership with Porsche.
Porsche’s most prosperous period in Formula 1 occurred in the middle of the 1980s when it partnered with McLaren as an engine supplier and entered their cars under the TAG logo. It last appeared in 1991, during a disastrous alliance with the Footwork-branded Arrows team that lasted barely a few races.
Despite the manufacturer being associated with various teams recently, Audi’s plans are still unclear.
Audi and Porsche will start funding F1 teams in 2026.
The legendary two brands of German luxury automakers Audi and Porsche are expected to partner with racing teams in the motorsport championship when they enter Formula 1 in 2026.
Their parent corporation Volkswagen would be able to divide development costs among its Lamborghini, Porsche, and McLaren racing teams if they competed in Formula One. For the two automakers to compete in Formula 1, the supervisory board of Volkswagen must give its consent.
- As powerplant suppliers, Porsche and Audi would enter Formula 1.
- McLaren and Audi would collaborate to power Audi’s racing squad.
- Porsche is thinking about collaborating with Red Bull Racing.
Volkswagen CEO affirms Porsche and Audi will compete in Formula One.
Following months of rumors regarding their separate ambitions, Porsche and Audi will join the F1 grid when the sport’s new engine formula is in effect, according to the CEO of the Volkswagen Group.
The Volkswagen Group has made it quite clear that Porsche and Audi will join Formula 1 starting with the 2026 season.
As the sport strives for a new engine formula, premium Volkswagen brands Porsche and Audi have recently been strongly associated with F1 entries.
Further encouraging rumblings came from the Volkswagen Group’s camp following a recent Supervisory Board meeting, and Herbert Diess, the company’s CEO, revealed on Monday that Porsche and Audi have chosen to move through with their plans.
Diess noted that Porsche’s preparations were farther advanced than Audi’s during a presentation that was aired on the Volkswagen Group’s YouTube page, but he avoided providing any further specifics.
Porsche will join Red Bull Racing in Formula One in 2026.
According to reports, starting in 2026, Formula 1 teams will receive engines from both Audi and Porsche. Although much is reportedly prepared behind the scenes for the acceptance of the two Volkswagen Group brands, no official statement has yet been made. The main reason for this is that the FIA must first accept the new engine regulations.
Porsche will join Red Bull Racing, according to Blick. The German tabloid speculates that the deal may have already been announced during the Austrian team’s home race in July.
Indication That They Can Make More Money Than Invest: Porsche and Audi’s Entry Into F1
Porsche and Audi, which are owned by Volkswagen, have long been linked to Formula 1. Now that it’s official, it’s clear that the big investment will result in a profit.
Herbert Diess, the CEO of VW, announced on Monday that when technical restrictions pertaining to the that promote energy efficiency take effect, the two luxury brands will join the top international racing league. You require a regulation change to enter Formula 1; as Diess put it, “You can’t get into Formula 1 unless a technology window opens.”
Volkswagen’s actions will probably take one of two forms: first, Porsche will likely collaborate with Oracle Red Bull Racing to take Honda’s place as the engine supplier. The Japanese manufacturer will still provide support for the 2022 season, but the racing team had to launch Red Bull Powertrains, a section dedicated to power units.
Although the supercar manufacturer has found stronger financial footing thanks to a Saudi equity investment of PS50 million ($758 million U.S.), the play with Audi may involve buying McLaren. According to reports, Audi is prepared to buy McLaren for about EUR500 million ($556.3 million U.S.).
In the end, Diess stated, “You just run out of arguments” for not entering, despite reports that there were “divisions” during an event considering admission into F1 in Wolfsburg, where Volkswagen is based.
When will Porsche make its F1 debut?
The Supervisory Board of VW Group authorized Porsche and Audi’s ambitions to enter Formula 1 in April. Porsche’s chairman announced in May that the company had begun working on an engine for the racing circuit.
Audi and Porsche: F1 entry?
In the early hours of Friday at Spa, Audi declared its intention to compete in Formula One in 2026 using a brand-new powertrain.
A deal to acquire Sauber, which is presently in competition under the Alfa Romeo banner, is almost ready to be finalized by the manufacturer.
Porsche, meanwhile, has not yet made a public announcement regarding its intention to collaborate with Red Bull Racing and the newly formed Red Bull Powertrains company.
Given that Mercedes just competed against the two German companies in Formula E, Wolff made it clear that Mercedes welcomes the rivalry.
“And having some of the best auto manufacturers in the world as competitors is excellent for the sport and great for us.
“The most difficult sporting competition for any automaker in the world is F1. With these newcomers, it already has been challenging and will only get more so.”
The new Audi Sport F1 concept car is unveiled by Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, Mohammed bin Sulayem, President of the FIA, Oliver Hoffmann, Head of Technical Development at Audi Sport GmbH, and Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG.
Wolff claimed to comprehend the various approaches Porsche and Audi are using for their respective initiatives.
“Given that one is your completely integrated works team in Switzerland and the other is your affiliation with one of the top F1 teams in the world, I believe you are simply hedging your bets. I think the dual-track approach makes sense.”
Jost Capito, the team principal of the Williams team and the former head of the VW WRC program, concurred that the strength of the sport was proved by Audi’s entry into Formula 1.
“It was unthinkable a few years ago, but today it’s even two manufacturers, two brands from the VW Group, with Porsche expected to confirm and Audi confirmed. Therefore, I believe it to be excellent for F1.
“I believe Audi has had success everywhere they have gone. And if they follow the program and take it seriously, they will arrive sooner or later, in my opinion. I’m quite certain about this.”
Porsche’s last F1 season was when?
Professor h.c. F. German automaker Porsche AG, commonly abbreviated as Porsche AG, is known for its high-performance vehicles and engines. It is believed to be the biggest and most prosperous racing vehicle company in the world, and it is based in Stuttgart.
From 1957 to 1964, Porsche vehicles powered by either Flat-4 or Flat-8 air-cooled engines participated in Formula One. Dan Gurney, driving for them, claimed their lone championship triumph at the 1962 French Grand Prix.
Which F1 team is Porsche investing in?
Legal documents state that Porsche will buy a 50% stake in Red Bull Technology in order to partner with the team and enter Formula 1 in 2026.
When the new power unit regulations were announced earlier this year, VW stated that the Volkswagen Group was interested in competing in Formula One. Porsche and Audi were given the go-ahead to start developing their entry. Audi’s plans seem less firm at this time, but Porsche has frequently been associated with a relationship with Red Bull, and further information about the plans has now surfaced.
Although there is currently no formal confirmation, Morocco’s mandated publishing of the proposed deal has resulted from the requirement to submit evidence to antitrust authorities:
Porsche has agreed to buy a 50% investment in Red Bull Technology, according to the disclosure form, which claims the deal will be disclosed on August 4 and will need a 10-year commitment. Porsche is anticipated to provide the power unit, but the ownership stake may give it more sway.
Why did Porsche quit Formula One?
Porsche left Formula One at the end of the season due to exorbitant expenditures after recently purchasing the Reutter facility. F1 was too far removed from road cars for Volkswagen and German suppliers to be interested in making a commitment. Up until 1964, Privateers kept using the old Porsche 718 in Formula 1.
Will Toyota return to Formula One?
Toyota, a Japanese automaker that left Formula 1 at the conclusion of last year, has absolutely no plans to rejoin the competition, which is dubbed the “pinnacle of motorsport.”
Toyota’s Senior Managing Director Tadashi Yamashina claimed in an article in Automotive News that Formula 1 is just out of touch with the company’s client base.
Yamashina, a spectator at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, claimed that while Formula One remains the peak of motor racing, its reputation has become too “elitist.”
Toyota will now concentrate on racing automobiles that are directly related to its clientele. (Image: Lexus)
Yamashina claimed that President Akio Toyoda’s approach to motorsports was more customer-focused.
Toyota’s new focus is therefore on more amateur racing that enables tighter fan interaction, such NASCAR in the United States and endurance competitions.
At events like the Nurburgring, fans may enter the pit lane and interact with the crews and vehicles right away, according to Yamashina. They can take in the atmosphere and experience the event firsthand. The average fan, on the other hand, has no chance of visiting the paddock at a Formula One race, he continued.
Yamashina added, “For the fortunate few who can afford to do that, it’s good. “I believe the best races are those where spectators can come up close to the action.”