Just the other day I ran across a few posts regarding Audi’s participation in F1. As in they may NOT join the grid in 2026. While this seems stupefying, it may have some legs. Consider the following…
One of VAG AG’s other companies (Porsche) pulled out of a deal with Red Bull Racing at the 11th hour. Supposedly everything was signed, sealed, and about the be delivered. Then the bombshell, no deal. Evidently Porsche wanted a majority stake of RBR, which team leadership balked at. They wanted to retain their independence, for good reason too. Anybody with even a cursory knowledge of F1 history knows how fickle manufacturer participation can be.
Consider the last time Porsche was in F1…
Not to mention Honda, Toyota, Renault, Ford, BMW, Peugeot, Lamborghini and many others.
But Audi did strike a deal with Sauber, buying 25% of the team last year and set to buy 25% more by early 2024. The plan was to own at least 75% of the team by 2025 and provide them with an integrated engine/chassis combination to take on the other big teams. Supposedly Audi has already spent over $100 million on engine development over the past 18 months as well.
However, all may not be well. There is new management at Audi who may not be as keen on Formula One as previous leadership. Combine that with slow auto sales and economic headwinds, the company may decide to cut it’s losses on what amounts to a side project. They might reckon that whatever they gain from a marketing standpoint by entering F1 would be offset by the costs associated with becoming a competitive team.
History suggests that it will take 4-5 years to take a mid- to low-tier team like Sauber to the top of the grid. It can happen, witness what the team was able to do with BMW when they switched from Williams to Sauber. The team has great facilities and an incredible heritage going back decades in both prototype and open-wheeled racing. However, is Audi willing to invest the time and money to become a frontrunner?
Maybe not.
Normally, there are only a couple of teams that can run at the front. In the current turbo-hybrid era; that cohort has consisted of Mercedes and Red Bull with Ferrari sometimes joining the fray. Getting to the front takes time and effort, witness the monumental efforts of both McLaren and Aston-Martin to become more competitive. There is also no guarantee of success, as Alpine is experiencing right now. All this to say that there is a chance Audi will not join F1 in 2026.
UPDATE: Audi confirmed that they will enter F1 in 2026 with Sauber.
