Simply while you thought the Method 1 foolish season couldn’t get any sillier, German efficiency automotive big Audi has lastly confirmed that they’ll be becoming a member of the F1 grid in 2026.
This comes off the again of stories that fellow Volkswagen Group model Porsche can even be becoming a member of F1, having revealed plans to take a 50% stake in Pink Bull earlier in July.
Not like the Porsche/Pink Bull deal, the place Pink Bull Racing will keep total management of the staff and Porsche can be extra of a powertrain and technical companion, Audi will as an alternative take over the Sauber staff fully, and produce their very own powertrain in Germany.
Sauber presently competes in F1 underneath the Alfa Romeo model, nevertheless it’s simply that – a branding train. The Audi deal can be an entire manufacturing facility staff state of affairs, like how the Sauber-BMW partnership labored between 2006 and 2009.
Audi had initially negotiated with McLaren a couple of takeover of staff shares, nevertheless it appears as if these discussions fell by means of some time in the past.
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This additionally comes after Sauber’s proprietor Finn Rausing rejected a suggestion from American outfit Andretti Autosport – one in every of IndyCar’s most profitable groups – to promote the staff for €350 million on the finish of 2021, motorsport.com stories.
Audi (and Porsche) becoming a member of F1 has been on the playing cards for some time, nevertheless it’s actually solely been within the final six months that we’ve seen something concrete form up. In 2026, there can be a brand new set of technical rules – together with notably totally different powertrain rules – which have been largely formed round engaging automotive producers like Audi to affix the game. Seems to be like F1’s plans have paid off, then.
Extra to come back.
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