Audi to join Formula 1 in 2026

The future of Formula 1 will see a host of changes to the sport. The introduction of synthetic fuels and electric motors as powerful as combustion engines makes up for a couple of them. But the biggest change comes in the form of a new team. Or rather, the acquisition of the existing Alfa Romeo Sauber team to become the Audi factory team by 2026.

This new Audi factory team will see its power unit get developed at Audi’s Motorsport Competence Center in Neuburg an der Donau. However, the race car will be designed and manufactured by Sauber at its site in Hinwil, Switzerland. The motorsport team will also take the reins over planning and executing race operations.

Audi had already teased its entry into Formula 1 earlier this year. Talks of allying with top team Red Bull didn’t brew as envisioned, prompting the German carmaker to forge a new path to Formula 1. The path came through the languishing Sauber team, which boasts of a 30-year competitive experience yet hasn’t managed to shuffle its way onto the podium in recent years.

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Sauber expects to witness a change in fortunes with Audi as both teams benefit from professional history. Back in Audi’s successful LeMans and DTM era, Sauber lent its high-tech wind tunnel in Hinwil to Audi Sport to develop LeMans cars and the Class 1 touring car for the DTM. “We are delighted to have gained such an experienced and competent partner for our ambitious Formula 1 project,” says Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board for Technical Development at Audi. “We already know the Sauber Group with its state-of-the-art facility and experienced team from previous collaborations and are convinced that together we will form a strong team.”

Audi will be taking over the development of the powertrain entirely. Hence, the development of components such as the electric motor, battery, control systems and combustion engine is already in full swing at the Audi Formula Racing GmbH facility in Neuburg an der Donau.

The Formula 1 season commencing in 2026 will see new regulations come into effect. As the sport vows to go more carbon-neutral than ever (a 2030 target of being entirely carbon-neutral), the electric motor will be pegged to carry almost the same amount of power as the current 544hp 1.6-litre turbocharged engines deploy.