Preparations are well underway for Audi to make its Formula 1 debut in 2026, which will mark a new era for the world championship as the regulations are being overhauled.
The 2026 F1 season will have smaller and lighter cars with active aerodynamics. Electrical power will contribute half of the total power output in the redesigned power units that will run on 100 percent sustainable fuels.
It will also mark the arrival of Audi, which is in the process of taking over the Sauber team that joined the F1 grid in 1993.
The Swiss squad has given F1 debuts to many promising talents like Charles Leclerc, Felipe Massa and the 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen.
Its most successful period came under the BMW-Sauber guise from 2006 to 2010, when it claimed second in the 2007 constructors’ standings. It also won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix with Robert Kubica, while finishing third in that year’s constructors’ championship.
Audi has high hopes of surpassing that success, and will also produce its own engine. It is one of six suppliers currently committed to creating a power units for 2026, although there is doubt over Renault’s future as Alpine’s engine supplier.
So, why is Audi joining F1 and how does the picture currently look ahead of Sauber’s final season?
Why is Audi joining F1?
Audi will join F1 in 2026 as an engine supplier and constructor, taking over the current Sauber operation
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Audi first announced in August 2022 that it would become an F1 power unit supplier from 2026, after the new engine regulations were announced.
It is believed that Audi was swayed into joining F1 because the 2026 power units feature increased electrical power and 100 percent sustainable fuels. Audi was also understood to be supportive of F1’s cost cap and its desire to be net zero by 2030.
Markus Dussmann, Audi’s then CEO, said in 2022: “Motorsport is an integral part of Audi’s DNA. 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.”
Although those factors helped to sell the dream to the Audi board, it’s not the only reason why it decided to join F1.
Herbert Diess, former CEO…
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