Alfa Romeo will conclude their Sauber collaboration by 2023 with Audi expected to take the reins of the Group ahead of the regulation changes for 2026. The Ingolstadt based automaker will also manufacture their own F1 powertrains, the first time in over a decade to be done in Germany.
With an official announcement made at a press conference during the Belgian Grand Prix, Audi are now set to join the premier motorsport series and become an engine supplier too. With over 1,5 billion active viewers and counting, it is also one of the most viewed sports series in the world which makes it a lucrative space for automakers to capitalise on.
As popularity grows in high volume vehicle purchasing countries like China and the USA, it becomes a platform to promote a brand with Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management at Audi stating that: “Formula 1 is both a global stage for our brand and a highly challenging development laboratory. The combination of high performance and competition is always a driver of innovation and technology transfer in our industry. With the new rules, now is the right time for us to get involved. After all, Formula 1 and Audi both pursue clear sustainability goals.”
Despite the benefits from contending the top tier of motorsport for commercial sales, Duesmann further adds that “Motorsport is an integral part of Audi’s DNA,” which is why the German automaker will induct their own engine manufacturing facility at Audi Sport’s Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg. The carbon-neutral sustainability regulations also align with Audi’s sustainability goals at the same time.
Watch the embedded YouTube video of a prototype Audi F1 challenger below.
At the moment, it is speculated that Audi has bought a majority stake of the Sauber Group, currently in collaboration with Alfa Romeo, with a pending exit by the historic Italian brand by the end of next season.
