The German team intends to join the F1 grid in 2026 and has signed an agreement to purchase the Sauber F1 team from the Volkswagen Group’s Audi AG.
The popularity of F1 has increased dramatically in recent years, as has the sport overall. Major automakers have placed offers for the elusive F1 grid as a result of the motorsport’s drive. The German sports car manufacturer Audi is one of them.
One of the most well-known brands, Audi is present all over the world. The business has a history in racing, having competed in events like Le Mans, the World Endurance Championships, rallies, and, up until recently, Formula E.
They belong to the Volkswagen organization. In anticipation of the 2026 rule change, Audi has been vying for a position on the F1 grid since 2021. Herbert Diess, the CEO of Volkswagen Group, decided on the F1 team in a recent news release from May.
F1 journalist Joe Saward claims that Alfa Romeo Sauber and Audi have reached an agreement that will allow the German team to compete in Formula 1. The $450 million agreement means that Audi will own the franchise.
I’ve heard rumors that Audi and Sauber have formally signed a deal for Audi to compete in Formula One in 20232024.
The partnership between Red Bull and Porsche is now on hold but might be revealed at the start of August. #F1#Audi#Sauber#AustrianGP#Formula1#Porsche#RedBull#AlfaRomeo
In This Article...
Is there an F1 team for Audi?
Initial negotiations with McLaren came to an early stalemate, complicating Audi’s plans to enter Formula 1 in 2026 with its own engine and a team bearing its name. The Volkswagen Group has virtually confirmed a first-time Audi F1 project, which is still pending final approval.
Is Audi making an F1 debut?
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.
Why is Audi not in Formula One?
All of the major exotic vehicle manufacturers have competed in F1 or, at the absolute least, provided engines for the sport throughout its history.
The F1 grid has formerly featured vehicles with the names Aston Martin, Maserati, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Lamborghini, Lotus, Jaguar, and Mercedes Benz. You now have a real who’s who of the automotive industry, including the enduring Ferrari and contemporary automotive behemoths Honda, Renault, and Toyota.
Despite its long history and popularity, there are surprisingly few names from the real world of motorsport on the roster of teams competing in F1 today.
The only car brands you can actually buy are Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault, and, to a lesser extent, McLaren. The two Lotus teams who absurdly compete this year have no connection to the British sports car manufacturer of the same name (owned by Malaysia).
The concentration of ownership of these well-known names is one of the main issues. They used to be powerful, independent businesses, but today they are just branches on the conglomerate tree.
For instance, Fiat is the owner of Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, and Ferrari. Audi, Bugatti, Bentley, and Lamborghini are all under Porsche control at Volkswagen.
Where are Peugeot or BMW? Why are Japanese firms no longer in a position to compete? Why couldn’t one of the Porsche stable’s brands stand in for the group?
Audi has developed a solution. They have revealed their cards after years of tease teasers about an F1 effort.
Audi believes that F1 is unimportant. Audi’s director of racing, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, defends the harsh decision.
The road has no bearing on this. Audi has long participated in motorsports that our customers care about, like rallying and touring cars, which helped develop the quattro, FSI, and TFSI systems that are now included in our road cars.
This is the reason we rejected F1 in 1999. Instead, we made the decision to compete in the world’s biggest race. We chose Le Mans.
They are combative words. However, the argument has some merit given the number of passenger car manufacturers competing alongside Audi (11 in all) at Le Mans events.
That didn’t prevent Audi from planning an extravagant celebration in Singapore to coincide with the F1 race, though.
As brutal as Dr Ulrich’s assessment is, he gets the Ban Ki Moon award for diplomacy compared to the blunt assessment of F1 offered up by Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller who declared that it was “not interesting and “too expensive.”
Of course, the two erudite men omit to mention that F1 is an absurdly challenging sport to master.
Why risk it all to be an afterthought in a world that is so different from your own when you’re the big fish in Le Mans racing, as is the case with Audi, or when you have many series exclusively dedicated to your brand, as does Porsche?
You know you’re not in Kansas anymore when racing behemoths like Mercedes and Ferrari attend a class from an energy drink manufacturer.
That, though, is the appeal. F1 should be unpredictable and innovative; it shouldn’t only be about racing road cars.
That is not to claim that Formula One is a very inventive sport. The idea that F1 has significantly advanced the automotive industry is widespread, but it doesn’t hold up to thorough examination.
F1 is better at extending existing technologies than it is at inventing new ones, leaving aside traction control and monocoque construction. While improvements in this field certainly have an impact on the passenger market, they don’t often garner the same attention as high-profile innovations like airbags.
The Olympics wouldn’t exist if sport were exclusively about practical applications, though. It wouldn’t be fun to see Usain Bolt shatter world records; we’d rather to watch police officers take out criminals.
Although Audi would be a great addition, F1 is unique and different, and the sport will continue to exist without them. In addition, a number of well-known past participants are already lined up to participate in the 2014 engine upgrades, joining first-timers Volkswagen and General Motors.
F1 is still without a doubt the best series, even though the Le Mans 24-hour may be the world’s best auto race (although the people of Monaco may disagree).
Are Porsche and Audi entering Formula One?
The two premium brands “have decided to enter Formula 1 due to the rising popularity of the championship,” Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess revealed.
In an interview that was aired by Volkswagen, Diess stated, “At Porsche, this is already rather tangible, whereas at Audi, not so much. While Audi has reportedly been linked to other teams like McLaren, Williams, and Sauber, which fields Alfa Romeo’s entry, Porsche is rumored to be considering a partnership with Red Bull.
Porsche will return to Formula One after a 30-year sabbatical, but Audi has never raced in the premier division of motorsport. Diess claimed that the reason their participation is now possible is because Liberty Media, who run Formula 1, is “forcing Formula 1 to expand incredibly favorably worldwide.”
He cited the increased interest among younger client groups in Asia as well as the growing popularity of Formula 1 in the USA, which he linked to the success of the Netflix series Drive to Survive. If you compete in motorsports, he advised, you should drive a Formula 1 car. “The impact is greater there.
To make sure they are in a competitive position when they enter the competition, the manufacturers will take advantage of an impending change in the rules. Diess said, “You can’t enter Formula 1 unless a technology window opens. “You have to change the rules to get in there.
In 2026, F1 intends to replace its V6 hybrid turbo power unit regulations. In order to cut pollutants, it will improve the current engines’ electrical power output and incorporate synthetic fuels.
Diess noted that if the two manufacturers missed the chance to compete in Formula One now, another one might not come along for another ten years. “You need a new engine development, and you need three to four years to produce the new engine development,” he stated. We are currently in the ninth season of the current engine regulations.
According to Diess, Porsche and Audi have started developing their F1 engines. “We anticipate that, even more so than it is now, it will continue to be the largest motorsport spectacle in the world in ’26 and ’28. More than now in China and the USA, which also represents the largest luxury automobile marketing platform.
Why aren’t BMW and Audi in Formula One?
Since the World Drivers’ Championship was established in 1950, BMW has been involved in Formula One in a variety of capacities. Before developing the BMW M12/13 inline-four turbocharged engine in the 1980s, the business competed in sporadic races in the 1950s and 1960s (typically under Formula Two rules). The team’s chassis were powered by BMW engines from 1982 to 1987 as a consequence of an agreement between BMW and Brabham. Nelson Piquet won the 1983 title while operating a Brabham BT52-BMW during this time. ATS, Arrows, Benetton, and Ligier teams were also given the M12/13 by BMW during this time, with varying degrees of success. Brabham briefly left the sport in 1988, and BMW stopped officially supporting the engines, which were still being used by the Arrows team under the Megatron moniker. The 1989 revision of the Formula One Technical Regulations outlawed turbocharged engines, making the M12/13 obsolete.
In the late 1990s, BMW made the decision to return to Formula One and entered into an exclusive agreement with the Williams team, which was in need of a new long-term engine supplier following the departure of Renault in 1997. A new V10 engine was produced as a result of the program and debuted in competition in the Williams FW22 in 2000. The collaboration advanced from the midfield to contending for race victories the next year, but the desired title remained elusive due to Michael Schumacher and Ferrari’s domination in the first half of the 2000s. BMW decided to sever ways with Williams in 2005 as their relationship had deteriorated, and instead decided to purchase the rival Sauber team outright.
The BMW Sauber project, which ran from 2006 to 2009, significantly raised the Swiss former privateer team’s competitiveness. A strong third place performance in the Constructors’ Championship in 2007 followed two podium places in the inaugural season (which became second when McLaren was disqualified). Robert Kubica won the team’s lone race in 2008, the Canadian Grand Prix, and briefly held the lead in the Drivers’ Championship, but the team decided to concentrate on 2009 car development and fell back in the standings at the end of the season. Due to the F1.09 chassis’ lack of competitiveness, the 2009 season was a significant letdown. BMW decided to leave the sport, returning the team to its founder, Peter Sauber, in addition to the global financial downturn and the company’s displeasure with the constraints of the current technical standards in developing technology relevant to road cars.
Why isn’t Lamborghini in Formula One?
Although the Italian automaker has produced some of the most iconic automobiles in history, Lamborghini hasn’t been the dominant force in Formula 1. Even more people have discovered the sport thanks to Netflix’s Drive to Survive, but some auto fans have noted Lamborghini’s absence from the grid.
Despite not taking part in the event in 2021 or 2022, the Italian automaker has previous experience. According to F1 Technical, Lamborghini raced a vehicle dubbed the Lambo 291 in the 1990s. Despite possessing a strong V12 engine, its brief career didn’t turn out as expected.
There isn’t an official Formula One team for Lamborghini. However, the Italian automaker did make a foray into the sport in the early 1990s. This was the time the automaker ordered engineers Mario Tolentino and Mauro Forghieri to create a new vehicle based on the automaker’s L3512 naturally aspirated V12. Like all F1 vehicles at the time, the Lambo 291 had a carbon-fiber chassis. The automobile was about 1124 pounds in weight. The only transmission used to provide V12 power to the rear wheels was a six-speed manual.
It’s interesting to note that Lamborghini didn’t want its name on the squad since the company didn’t want to damage its reputation if the team failed. The team’s name is Modena because of this. However, Lamborghini decided to call its vehicle the Lambo 291.
Despite enormous expectations, the Lamborghini F1 car wasn’t a huge success. The 1991 Formula 1 season was the sole time the Lambo 291 was active. The pre-qualifying sessions served as its initial test. To even be eligible for one of the 16 races that year, the car had to perform well in these qualifying sessions.
Sadly, the automobile only competed in races six times. The Lambo 291 finished sixth at the U.S. Grand Prix on its best day. Lamborghini didn’t want to invest in a struggling squad, despite the fact that the company had one respectable finish at the beginning of the season. Despite having great hopes in 1992, Modena never returned to Formula 1.
Even if it happens, Lamborghini rejoining Formula One is doubtful. Just to enter costs $200 million. The current teams each receive an equal share of the money. Budgeting would also be required for the creation of a whole new vehicle and powertrain. Because Lamborghini lacks the same racing heritage as Ferrari, it would be prohibitively pricey.
Why tinker with success when Lamborghini’s Urus SUV is breaking sales records? If anything, Porsche or Audi have a stronger chance of entering Formula 1 because Lamborghini is controlled by the Volkswagen group.
Will BMW compete in Formula One?
Numerous automakers will join the fray as the Formula 1 racing championship gains in popularity. In 2026, Audi and Porsche will make their Formula 1 debuts, but BMW has largely remained silent. Frank Van Meel, the head of BMW M, stated in an interview today that the Munich-based automaker has no plans to compete in Formula 1.
“Van Meel was adamant that we had no intentions to compete in Formula 1. The forthcoming LMDh project is where the business continues to concentrate its motorsport efforts. “It’s crucial for us that the [electrification] narrative of transformation is accepted as soon as feasible. The regulations pertaining to electrification are still being discussed in Formula 1. Thus, everything was crystal plain to us. Van Meel suggests moving more quickly into the electrification section.
Focus on LMDh (GTP)
And LMDh offers the ideal chance to evaluate BMW M’s road technology in a racing environment. According to Van Meel, a variation of the V8 plug-in hybrid powerplant recently unveiled by the BMW XM and probably to be utilized in the upcoming BMW M5 G90 would be used in the LMDh vehicles. Therefore, BMW Motorsport will concentrate on Le Mans Daytona Hybrid (LMDh), also known as IMSA GTP more recently.
In June 2021, BMW announced that it would create a Le Mans Daytona hybrid prototype and begin racing it in 2023. A few months later, the head of the motorsport division announced that the V12 LMR’s spiritual replacement will not compete in the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. The good news is that it’s possible that the LMDh machine will appear at the endurance event the following year.
The ideal year to test the LMDh prototype on France’s renowned Circuit de la Sarthe is 2024. It would mark the victory at Le Mans in 1999 by the V12 LMR’s 25th anniversary. BMW continues to be tight-lipped on the race car, although its hybrid powertrain won’t have more than 500 kilowatts to comply with regulations (670.5 horsepower). V6 combustion engines will be used by Toyota, Peugeot, and Peugeot while a V8 with two turbochargers will be used by Porsche. The larger engine could be used by Audi, and Lamborghini should soon finalize its LMDh entry for 2024.
BMW is renowned for continuously assessing its motorsport ambitions and is not hesitant to immediately sever relations if the racing interest doesn’t correspond with the company aims and goals. So it’s reasonable to suppose that the M CEO will give the storied racing series another look if Formula 1 moves more toward electricity in the future.