Which F1 team is Audi buying?
Audi have reached an agreement with sauber to make the swiss formula 1 operation their works team from 2026. German car manufacturer audi is contracted to compete as a formula one team and power unit manufacturer from 2026 onwards. audi f1 team will be formed through the acquisition of sauber, with engines developed by audi formula racing gmbh.Jonathan Wheatley has explained that Audi is not in support of F1 readopting V8 engines, as concerns over the next generation of power units fester in the paddock. The Stake team principal will continue to lead the former Sauber entry as it transforms into the aforementioned German car giant for the 2026 season.Ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, Audi said Sauber – who are currently running under the Alfa Romeo banner – will become their “strategic partner” for their F1 programme and that the automotive company plans to acquire a stake in the Sauber Group.
Why is Audi joining Formula 1?
By entering the pinnacle of motorsport, Audi is making a clear, ambitious statement. It is the next chapter in the company’s renewal. Formula 1 will be a catalyst for the change towards a leaner, faster and more innovative Audi. We are not entering Formula 1 just to be there. Audi is preparing to enter the premier class of motorsport in 2026: Formula 1®. The preparation for entering the FIA Formula One World Championship is already well underway.Audi’s Entry into F1 May Include a Minority Sale to Qatar Before 2026 As Audi gears up for its official Formula 1 debut in 2026, reports suggest the company may sell a minority stake in its team to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund.
Is Audi replacing Alfa Romeo in F1?
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. We’ve known Audi were heading for Formula 1 in 2026 for around three years. But it wasn’t until Wednesday, when they hosted a dazzling launch event in Munich to unveil the colours and design that will adorn their first F1 car, that it felt like the German manufacturer had really arrived.
Why don’t Lamborghini have an F1 team?
So why doesn’t Lamborghini have an F1 team? Lamborghini’s parent company, Volkswagen AG, now have other brands involved in F1. Porsche it set to become the engine manufacturer for multiple teams and Audi will have their own team. Lamborghini did try racing in F1 for a few years in the early 90s, but it did not go well. Lamborghini isn’t in F1 because it doesn’t fit their business strategy or VW Group’s brand “lane assignments. The cost/complexity of modern hybrid F1 power units is massive, road-relevance is limited for a V12 hybrid supercar maker, and the Group already designated other brands (Audi/Porsche) for F1.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 .