Audi has unveiled the latest update to its commitment to Formula 1 for 2026 in reaction to rumours circulating, stating that the German marque could cancel the acquisition of the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 team.
Official access to Formula 1 is two years away, but Audi had to explain its intended access to the game by buying the Hinwil-based Sauber F1 team.
Currently, the team is known as Alfa Romeo Sauber, but from 2024 it will be renamed Sauber until it becomes Audi in 2026, marking the long-awaited arrival of the VW Group in Formula 1.
Rumours have recently surfaced in the French media that Audi would possibly abandon the acquisition of the Sauber F1 team. However, the company’s board of directors accepted the challenge at a recent meeting. An Audi spokesperson denied the rumors when asked for comment. He said PlanetF1. com:
“Audi’s accession to F1 in 2026 is based on a resolution through the Board of Management of AUDI AG in agreement with the Supervisory Board of AUDI AG as well as the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board of the Volkswagen Group.
Audi Formula Racing GmbH’s calendar for the 2026 F1 set-up and powertrain at the headquarters in Neuburg/Germany remains unchanged.
Audi had taken the mandatory steps to halt its other racing activities until the end of the year, such as the allocation of LMDh in the World Endurance Championship and IMSA, in order to divert its resources to F1 operations. 2020 also saw the launch of the Marca DTM.
Preparing for a long F1 career, Audi held a family festival at its Neuberg facility to showcase its F1 project. The meeting included members of the Board of Directors and CTO Oliver Hoffmann addressing employees. Also in attendance were Adam Baker, CEO of Audi’s F1 powertrain division, as well as general managers Stefan Dreyer and Miriam Haubner, who spoke about plans for the F1 project.