Audi in Formula One
{{Short description|Upcoming Formula One constructor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox F1 team
|Constructor_name={{flagicon|GER}} Audi
|principal=Jonathan Wheatley
|previous_name=Sauber Motorsport AG
|engines=Audi
|debut={{f1|2026}} (contracted)
|website={{URL|https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/formula-1-14842|Official website}}
|base= Hinwil, Zürich, Switzerland (Chassis)
Neuburg, Bavaria, Germany
(Power unit){{Cite web |title=Audi expands Competence Center Motorsport for its Formula 1 project |url=https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/audi-expands-competence-center-motorsport-for-its-formula-1-project-15068 |access-date=6 May 2024 |website=Audi MediaCenter |language=en |archive-date=7 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507030653/https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/audi-expands-competence-center-motorsport-for-its-formula-1-project-15068 |url-status=live }}
|logo=File:Audi-Logo 2016.svg
|engineering_head_position=Chief Technical Officer|engineering_head=Mattia Binotto }}
{{Infobox F1 engine manufacturer
| name = Audi
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| debut = {{f1|2026}} (contracted)
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| chassis = Audi
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German car manufacturer Audi is contracted to compete as a Formula One team and power unit manufacturer beginning with the 2026 season. Audi F1 Team will be formed through the acquisition of Sauber, with engines developed by Audi Formula Racing GmbH.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-11 |title=Audi accelerates F1 acquisition |url=https://magazine.audi.com.au/article/audi-accelerates-f1-acquisition |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Audi Magazine Australia |publisher=Audi |language=en |archive-date=9 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609052945/https://magazine.audi.com.au/article/audi-accelerates-f1-acquisition |url-status=live }}
Background
Whilst the modern Audi company has never entered Grand Prix racing, its predecessor company Auto Union had competed in Grand Prix racing from 1935 to 1939, prior to the inception of the World Championship in 1950.{{cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Mark |title=Audi has gone grand prix racing before - sort of |url=https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/audi-has-gone-grand-prix-racing-before-sort-of/ |access-date=22 April 2025 |work=The Race |date=26 August 2022 |language=en}}
Audi announced in 2022 that it would enter the championship as an engine manufacturer in {{F1|2026}}.{{Cite web |title=Audi to join Formula 1 from 2026 |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-audi-to-join-formula-1-from-2026.yr9pFVd5nSQBbZ7EZZDLJ.html |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=www.formula1.com |language=en |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826072224/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-audi-to-join-formula-1-from-2026.yr9pFVd5nSQBbZ7EZZDLJ.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Kisby |first=Cambridge |date=2024-03-14 |title=Audi's Sauber takeover: Everything you need to know before 2026 F1 entry |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/audis-sauber-takeover-everything-you-need-to-know-before-2026-f1-entry/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Motor Sport|language=en-GB |archive-date=10 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510044657/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/audis-sauber-takeover-everything-you-need-to-know-before-2026-f1-entry/ |url-status=live }} In October, Audi confirmed its partnership with Sauber Motorsport for the year 2026, acquiring a stake in the company for the German brand to enter the competition by renaming the team and supplying engines.{{Cite web |title=Audi selects Sauber as strategic partner for Formula 1 entry |url=https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/audi-selects-sauber-as-strategic-partner-for-formula-1-entry-14981 |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=Audi MediaCenter |language=en |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027074923/https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/audi-selects-sauber-as-strategic-partner-for-formula-1-entry-14981 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Sauber to become Audi works F1 team from 2026 {{!}} Formula 1® |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-sauber-to-become-audi-works-f1-team-from-2026.6EMJQ2LlvshgpCXdCR9xJl.html |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=www.formula1.com |language=en |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105022002/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-sauber-to-become-audi-works-f1-team-from-2026.6EMJQ2LlvshgpCXdCR9xJl.html |url-status=live }} Neel Jani works as the team's simulator driver.{{Cite web|title=Audi announce new simulator driver as they take next step in F1 power unit development|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/audi-announce-new-simulator-driver-as-they-take-next-step-in-f1-power-unit.4OMqlgC3THNtQRVoEa65kL|access-date=6 May 2024|website=Formula 1|archive-date=6 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506062252/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/audi-announce-new-simulator-driver-as-they-take-next-step-in-f1-power-unit.4OMqlgC3THNtQRVoEa65kL|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-22 |title=Audi brings in Porsche veteran as 2026 F1 engine sim driver |url=https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/audi-brings-in-porsche-veteran-as-2026-f1-engine-sim-driver/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=The Race |language=en |archive-date=10 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510044658/https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/audi-brings-in-porsche-veteran-as-2026-f1-engine-sim-driver/ |url-status=live }}
In 2024, the Qatar Investment Authority purchased a minority stake in the team.[https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/qatar/qatar-investment-authority-buys-stake-in-audi-f1-racing-team-1.1732905924350 Qatar Investment Authority buys stake in Audi F1 racing team] Gulf News 23 November 2024
In 2025, Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto joined Sauber on separate multi-year contracts, and they will become Audi's first drivers in 2026.{{Cite web |title=Nico Hulkenberg confirmed as first Audi F1 driver after move from Haas to Sauber for 2025 confirmed |url=https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13123183/nico-hulkenberg-confirmed-as-first-audi-f1-driver-after-move-from-haas-to-sauber-for-2025-confirmed |access-date=26 April 2024 |website=Sky Sports |language=en |archive-date=26 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426090051/https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13123183/nico-hulkenberg-confirmed-as-first-audi-f1-driver-after-move-from-haas-to-sauber-for-2025-confirmed |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-09 |title=Hulkenberg reveals 'driving factor' behind Audi F1 decision |url=https://racingnews365.com/hulkenberg-reveals-driving-factor-behind-audi-f1-decision |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=RacingNews365 |language=en |archive-date=7 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807072540/https://racingnews365.com/hulkenberg-reveals-driving-factor-behind-audi-f1-decision |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|title=Kick Sauber confirm rookie Bortoleto as second driver for 2025|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-kick-sauber-confirm-rookie-bortoleto-as-second-driver-for-2025.2EL5ciR1wh3baHcobZqGl9 |date=6 November 2024 |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Formula One}}
- [https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/formula-1-14842 Audi MediaCenter - Audi Formula 1 Project]
{{Audi in Formula One}}
{{Audi}}
{{Formula One constructors}}