Who is Audi replacing in 2026 F1?
Audi is taking over the Sauber F1 team before joining the Formula 1 grid in 2026. But with 18 months to go, it’s changed its leader, replacing Andreas Seidl with former Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto. Audi announced on Friday, ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, that the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) had acquired a “significant minority stake” in the team, which currently races as Sauber. Sauber will evolve into Audi’s works F1 squad from 2026, racing with Audi engines.German car manufacturer Audi is contracted to compete as a Formula One team and power unit manufacturer beginning with the 2026 season. Revolut Audi F1 Team will be formed through the acquisition of Sauber, with engines developed by Audi Formula Racing GmbH.Carlos Sainz has denied reports that he rejected an offer to join Audi when the German manufacturer join F1 in 2026. Audi will take over the current Sauber outfit, who have already confirmed Nico Hulkenberg as their first driver for 2025.BMW pulled out of Formula 1 at the end of 2009, having owned and collaborated with the Sauber team – which is now owned by Audi ahead of that German marque’s 2026 F1 entry. Further explaining BMW’s ongoing F1 snub, van Meel added: “The (WEC) cars are closer to series-production models.What will the Audi-run F1 team be called? With its stake in the F1 team set to be reduced to zero, the historic Sauber moniker — which made its first appearance on an F1 grid in 1993 — is set to be fully replaced by Audi in 2026.
Who’s becoming Audi in F1?
Bortoleto will race alongside Nico Hülkenberg for Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber in 2025, which will transform into the Audi F1 factory team in 2026. In January 2025, Colapinto left Williams to join Alpine as a reserve driver. Haas is fielding an all-new line-up in 2025; Nico Hülkenberg departed the team after two seasons to drive for Sauber, with whom he last competed in 2013.
Is Audi joining F1 in 2025?
Audi are preparing to enter formula 1 in 2026, with a major partnership now being put in place. The future audi f1 team have announced global financial technology company revolut as their title partner from the 2026 season onwards. Ford has confirmed its return to formula 1 next year will be a full collaboration with red bull’s in-house engine program for 2026 and beyond.Three years after announcing it was leaving Formula One to focus on next-generation automotive technology, Honda has reversed course by announcing it is partnering with Aston Martin for the 2026 season, which will see a slew of new engine regulations come into force aimed at reaching net-zero carbon emissions.Audi are preparing to enter Formula 1 in 2026, with a major partnership now being put in place. The future Audi F1 Team have announced global financial technology company Revolut as their title partner from the 2026 season onwards.Honda subsequently announced it would make a full-scale return to F1 in 2026, partnering with Aston Martin.
Why is Kick Sauber becoming Audi?
Audi announced in 2022 that it would enter the championship as an engine manufacturer in 2026. In October, Audi confirmed its partnership with Sauber Motorsport for the year 2026, acquiring a stake in the company for the German brand to enter the competition by renaming the team and supplying engines. After Audi had already chosen the Swiss Sauber race team – one of the most experienced teams in Formula 1 with around 30 years of competitive experience – as a strategic partner for the project in 2022, it was decided in March 2024 that Audi would completely take over the Sauber Group.Audi-owned Sauber continues to evolve as it prepares for the 2024 season. With the Alfa Romeo partnership now complete, Sauber has been revealing new sponsors (notably the Australian streaming service Kick), and now confirming a new website, new 2024 contender dubbed “C44″, and also a new name – ” The Stake F1 Team”.In the penultimate season of its Alfa Romeo sponsorship deal, Sauber announced that 75% of the team would be acquired by Audi to become the Audi factory team in Formula One in 2026. This plan was revised in 2024 when Audi acquired 100% of the team, who later sold a minority stake to the Qatar Investment Authority.Sauber’s previous partnership with Alfa Romeo forced Audi to initially keep quiet about its F1 programme, but a lack of communication led to doubts about the entry. That was denied by Dussmann’s replacement as Audi CEO Gernot Dollner, who reiterated last year that “the plan is in place” to join F1 in 2026.Background. Whilst the modern Audi company has never entered Grand Prix racing, its predecessor company Auto Union had competed in Grand Prix racing from 1935 to 1939, prior to the inception of the World Championship in 1950. Audi announced in 2022 that it would enter the championship as an engine manufacturer in 2026.
Why is Audi not in Formula 1?
Planned for 2026, Audi’s entry into F1 faces major obstacles: internal tensions, an unattractive base in Switzerland, and an unknown engine. The challenge is significant for the German brand. Lamborghini Formula 1 (1988-93) Sadly, Lamborghini’s involvement at the pinnacle of motorsports competition would not last long. After engine testing by McLaren in 1993 failed to hold their interest, Lamborghini abandoned its Formula 1 research and development program.Has Lamborghini ever had an F1 team? Lamborghini has never had a factory Formula 1 team. They were an engine supplier from 1989-1993 and developed a car that ran in the 1991 F1 season under a different name, Modena.As of mid-2025, the company has no intention of joining F1—due to brand strategy, cost concerns, and existing VW Group participation via Audi and Porsche. Instead, Lamborghini is fully committed to endurance racing (LMDh) and expanding its presence in IMSA and WEC .
Why did Porsche quit F1?
In 1964, Porsche withdrew from the competition altogether, citing rising costs, with the team’s middling performance clearly falling short of the investment made. Later, in 1980, Porsche tried its hand at Indycar Racing with the Type 940 Indy. At the end of the season, Porsche withdrew from F1 due to the high costs, just having acquired the Reutter factory. Volkswagen and German branches of suppliers had no interest in an F1 commitment as this series was too far away from road cars. Privateers continued to enter the outdated Porsche 718 in F1 until 1964.After all, this is a brand that has dominated the world’s toughest endurance races, showcased cutting-edge technology, and revolutionized the performance car industry. However, despite its engineering excellence, Porsche has consistently chosen not to compete in F1.