From the 2026 season onwards, the automobile group Audi will compete with the Formula 1 manufacturer Sauber in the premier class of motorsport.

Audi AG confirmed this on Wednesday morning, a few days before the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday.

At the end of August, Audi board member Markus Duesmann and Audi development board member Oliver Hoffmann announced the entry of the VW brand in Spa-Francorchamps, but left the scope open.

Anno Hecker

Responsible editor for sports.

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At that time there was talk that Audi would initially acquire a 25 percent stake in Sauber AG and gradually increase the shares until the takeover was complete.

On Wednesday, the company stated that it wanted to appear as an Audi works team when it entered the market in 2026.

"We are delighted to have found such an experienced and competent partner for our ambitious Formula 1 project," said Hoffmann.

Currently, Sauber, which has been a chassis manufacturer in Formula 1 since 1993, is racing under the Alfa Romeo name in motorsport's most important racing series.

The title sponsorship ends at the end of next year.

Clean is Audi's second choice

Sauber will continue to build the racing car in Hinwil near Zurich.

The engines come from Audi and are built in Neuburg an der Donau.

It is already the third partnership between the Swiss and a German automobile manufacturer.

It started with Mercedes almost 30 years ago.

In June 2005, BMW joined Sauber.

With Bayern managed to win until they left.

Robert Kubica won the Canadian Grand Prix in the 2008 BMW-Sauber ahead of Nick Heidfeld.

At that time, the team finished third in the constructors' championship.

Clean is Audi's second choice.

The southern Germans had previously tried to come to an agreement with McLaren.

An agreement allegedly failed, among other things, due to Audi's interest in circling under its own name.

McLaren's time in Formula 1, at least the naming, would then have been history.

Sauber has long been one of the constants in the racing series.

However, the Hinwil location near Zurich is seen as a disadvantage.

In England, where most racing teams build or have their cars built, wages are lower.

The applicable labor law makes it easier for the teams to have the cars work around the clock.

In addition, the transfer of knowledge on the island should be higher because the engineers change more frequently from one racing team based there to another.

Audi's goal is to win the Constructors' World Championship.

According to experience in Formula 1, beginners need at least five years to implement.

In the case of Audi, a new drive concept approved for 2026 is helpful.

The very complex hybrid becomes simpler.

He loses one of the two electric motors, which from the point of view of corporations is not relevant for the series production of cars.

Energy for the electric drive is then no longer obtained by converting the exhaust gas heat, but “only” when braking.

The change in engine formula, along with the use of synthetic gasoline, was a prerequisite for Audi to take the step.

The advantage of the competition with the hybrid drive introduced in 2014 would have been too big.

The Audi project is managed by Adam Baker, who comes from Australia.

He took German citizenship in 2018.

Baker switched from the International Automobile Association FIA to Audi more than a year ago and accompanied the negotiations with the FIA ​​and the engine manufacturers.

With the rule change, the interest of other companies in Formula 1 has grown again.

Honda seems interested in returning.

Other Asian manufacturers are said to be at the door.

A few weeks ago, Audi's sister company Porsche canceled its planned entry into Formula 1, although an agreement with Red Bull was already well advanced.

The management of the world champion team, initially impressed, rebelled against the plan when they realized that Porsche, with a 50 percent stake in the racing team, did not want to be a silent partner, but wanted to exert a great deal of influence.

Red Bull refused Porsche's right to a say in the matter.

The Austrians based in England would have built the drive themselves anyway.

The model planned for 2026 is already being tested.