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.
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From 2026, Audi and Porsche plan to compete in Formula 1.
Porsche and Audi will both compete in Formula 1, according to Herbert Diess, CEO of parent company Volkswagen Group.
Diess announced that the group’s Porsche and Audi brands will both participate in the sport during an online “Dialogue with Diess” question-and-answer session. He said, “You just run out of reasons [not to join F1].
The decision to enter F1 divided the Volkswagen Group board of directors, according to Diess, who also disclosed that the board ultimately decided to approve the move since it will generate more money than it will cost.
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.
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.
For some months, rumors have circulated that the two companies were in negotiations for alliances to reach the top division of international motor racing; Porsche is anticipated to team up with Red Bull, while Audi has been connected to a relationship with McLaren.
The Volkswagen group has intentions to join Formula One, and Craig Slater outlines what the new team would like.
According to VW CEO Herbert Diess, the premium Volkswagen brands Audi and Porsche persuaded the German automaker company that their entry into Formula 1 would be financially beneficial.
At a gathering in Wolfsburg, Germany, where the German automaker has its headquarters, Diess claimed that discussions by the board of directors over the plans of the two brands had led to some divides.
However, according to Diess, the brands finally made the argument that they would bring in more money for Wolfsburg with a Formula 1 commitment than without one. The brands, together with VW’s China division, are the group’s most significant income suppliers.
Since several months ago, rumors have circulated that the two brands were discussing joint ventures to compete in the top division of international auto racing, which has been controlled for the most of the past ten years by Volkswagen’s German rival Mercedes.
Diess added that the timing of the decision has been significantly influenced by the sport’s new engine regulations, which will be implemented for the 2026 season. Diess stated on Monday that Porsche’s preparations for entering Formula 1 are a little more substantial than Audi’s.
On a medium-sized race circuit, Diess continued, “you normally make up one second per season only by optimizing minutiae, as Markus Duesman (Audi chairman) always tells me.
“You can only get on board if there is a significant rule change; you can’t catch up on it when you join a new squad; you need five or ten years to be among the front runners.
“That is already happening and will continue to happen until 2026, when engines will be considerably more heavily electrified, including using synthetic fuels. That indicates that you require the development of a new engine, which will take three to four years.
Our two premium brands believe it is the correct thing to do and are prioritizing it. “That means you may decide now to do Formula 1 – or then probably not again for 10 years.”
Volkswagen has previously collaborated with Red Bull in the global rally championship but not in Formula One.
Red Bull, with whom Porsche has been associated for a number of years and who has their own Powertrains Division focusing on the 2026 revisions, is anticipated to collaborate with Porsche.
It’s unclear how Audi is connected. Although both companies have refuted rumors, it was previously believed that they were close to a contract with McLaren. Now, according to the German journal Auto Motor und Sport, Sauber, Williams, and Aston Martin are the most likely candidates.
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.
Which Formula One team is Porsche buying?
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.
Audi and Porsche: F1 participants?
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, however, had yet to formally announce its intention to collaborate with Red Bull 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.
“For any automobile firm in the world, Formula One is the fiercest sporting competition. It already is, and as more newcomers arrive, things will only get more difficult.
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.
“I believe you are merely hedging your bets, as 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 think the dual-track approach makes sense.
Jost Capito, the head of the Williams team and the former head of the Volkswagen WRC program, concurred that the strength of the Formula One series was proved by Audi’s entry.
It’s a signal for all other manufacturers, and it highlights the significance and advancement made by F1 in recent years.
“I believe it’s wonderful for F1; two years ago, it was unthinkable, and now it’s even two manufacturers, two brands from the VW Group, with Audi confirmed and Porsche most likely to confirm.
“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. There are none in my mind about this.
Why is Porsche not in Formula One?
Porsche left Formula One at the end of the season due to exorbitant expenditures after recently purchasing the Reutter facility. Due to the fact that F1 was too far removed from road cars, Volkswagen and German suppliers had no interest in making a commitment.
Will Porsche ever compete in Formula One again?
Eddie Jordan and Ron Dennis will lead a factory Porsche team that will compete in Formula 1 as the Porsche Project-5 Formula 1 Team in 2022, according to the company’s announcement. It was discovered earlier this year that Porsche had actually created their own F1-ready engine and power unit. Porsche decided not to compete in Formula One in 2017 in order to concentrate on the electric revolution rather than the V6 turbo hybrid era. It is believed that Stuttgart’s shift in outlook on Formula One is due to the 2021 regulations being postponed to 2022, giving the team plenty of time to work behind the scenes to improve their rival. The motorsports director at Porsche, Fritz… Full Article >>