At the start of the year, Audi announced that it had completely taken over Sauber AG, the parent company of the current formula team, Stake F1, in a bid to accelerate preparations before its official arrival on the Formula One grid as Audi’s official works team.
However, as the 2024 Qatar GP weekend is in progress, another piece of news is coming out of Qatar and Formula One. Audi has announced that the Qatari Investment Authority (QIA), the state’s sovereign wealth fund, has agreed to purchase a minority stake in the Sauber AG. Audi introduces QIA as an essential strategic long-term partner in their Formula One endeavour.
The Qatari Investment will inject substantial capital into the Audi team, allowing them to invest in new infrastructure, team personnel, and facilities that fit a Formula One team that is gunning for the top honours. Similarly, the QIA will benefit from the ever-expanding circus Formula One – which has drastically increased in its value and ability to generate revenue, making it one of the fastest-growing sports and one of the biggest in the world, with the potential to grow substantially more.
As of now, the team will function as the Sauber F1 team till the end of the 2025 season, after which Audi shall officially take over the team and its branding for the 2026 season – with a fresh new car and an in-house developed F1 engine designed for the upcoming regulation revamp from 2026 season. Audi shall utilise two different engineering and manufacturing facilities: one in Hinwi, where the Formula car shall be developed, and one in Neuberg, where the engine is being developed as we speak. These facilities have undergone massive restructuring to fit the needs of a proper Formula One works team.
Going into the 2025 season, the Sauber F1 team ( soon to be Audi) will field a new lineup consisting of dependable Nico Hulkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. If things go as intended, both drivers will also wear Audi colours in the 2026 season.
This is what Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairman of Sauber Motorsport AG, has to say on the recent developments:
The investment by QIA reflects the trust and confidence the Audi F1 Project has already garnered, underscoring the unwavering commitment of Audi to the initiative. This additional capital will accelerate the team’s growth and is yet another milestone in our long-term strategy. QIA’s involvement further energizes the dedicated efforts at both the Hinwil and Neuburg facilities as they work towards the entry of Audi in 2026.
Audi is a premium partner of choice with a rich motorsport legacy. As a long-standing investor in the Volkswagen Group, we believe in Audi’s vision and direction when entering Formula 1, and our investment will support the realization of this goal. QIA believes that Formula 1 is a sport with significant untapped investment potential. The increasing commercialization of professional sports as an entertainment offering globally, and the increasingly global popularity of Formula 1, has made for an exciting opportunity for our first major motorsports investment, said Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA, on their new Venture.
