Is Sauber the same as Audi?
The Swiss-based Sauber team are to open a UK base this year as owner Audi gears up for its official entry into Formula 1 in 2026. A Sauber statement said the new technical centre would be in the so-called ‘motorsport valley’ in the south-east of England so Audi can tap into the engineering talent there. Alfa Romeo did not have any technical involvement with the team, and the company ended its sponsorship of Sauber after 2023 and left Formula One to allow the team to be taken over by Audi from 2026.Hoffman stated of the takeover: “I am convinced that by bundling responsibilities and taking over 100% of Sauber Group, we will further accelerate our preparations for the launch in 2026. He continued: “I am pleased we were able to secure the services of Andreas Seidl as Audi F1 Team CEO.From last year the squad was rebranded as Kick Sauber, an identity that continues in 2025, ahead of the Audi takeover in 2026 which will see the team become the automotive giant’s works outfit.In recent seasons they raced under the Alfa Romeo name – and in 2026 will become the works Audi squad – but since 2024 a new title sponsor has brought a new identity to the famous Swiss team.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. Where does that leave the ambitious project?
Is Sauber becoming Audi?
Sauber, last in the constructors’ standings after six races, are becoming the Audi factory team next season when the sport also starts a new engine era. Audi’s engines are being built in Bavaria but Sauber/Audi are also setting up an engineering base in Britain. German car brand Audi, part of the Volkswagen AG group, will buy 100% of the current Sauber team for 2026.Latest. German manufacturer Audi have moved to accelerate and expand their commitment to Formula 1 by choosing to take a 100% stake in Swiss operation Sauber, ahead of their arrival in the sport in 2026.When will Audi’s takeover of Sauber happen? Audi will complete its 100% takeover of the Sauber F1 Team before the 2026 F1 season.
Did BMW buy Sauber?
BMW Sauber. BMW bought Swiss team Sauber in June 2005 to form the BMW Sauber F1 Team (initially BMW planned to utilize BMW F1 Team naming). While Stake holds the primary naming rights of the entire team, Kick’s deal means that they have the naming rights of the chassis for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. It is why the 2024 Sauber car is in the striking green of Kick.Having initially acquired a 25% stake in Sauber in January 2023, Audi has now completed the acquisition process, securing 100% ownership of the renowned motorsport organization.Sauber will be rebranded as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber for the 2024 Formula 1 campaign, following the departure of their title sponsor Alfa Romeo. The Swiss team will operate under this banner for the next two seasons before rebranding as Audi in 2026 when they become the German manufacturer’s works squad.Sauber will be rebranded as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber for the 2024 Formula 1 campaign, following the departure of their title sponsor Alfa Romeo.
Is alfa romeo and Sauber the same?
Sauber operated under their own name from 1993 until 2005 and from 2011 until 2018. They were known as BMW Sauber from 2006 to 2010 and as Alfa Romeo from 2019 to 2023 in partnership deals with BMW and Alfa Romeo, respectively. Over fifty years of motorsport heritage. The Sauber story started in 1970, when founder Peter Sauber built his first race car, the C1, and won the Swiss sports car championship in the same year. Following this first success, he decided to set up a workshop on the premises of his father’s company in Hinwil, Switzerland.Sauber used Ferrari designed customer engines (from 1997 to 2005) and gearboxes built by Sauber Petronas Engineering, a company founded for the sole purpose of building these engines, that were nearly identical to the ones used by Ferrari as Sauber was relegated to being a customer team after four years as an .PP Sauber AG was founded by Peter Sauber in Hinwil, Switzerland, as an independent constructor of open two-seater racing sports cars in 1970.
Who owns the Audi Sauber?
German car giant Audi has become the sole owner of the Sauber F1 team by purchasing 100% of its shares. Audi, which acquired a minority stake in the Sauber F1 team in 2023, initially announced that it would purchase 75% of the team. However, it was announced that the new goal would be to own 100% of the team in 2024. German car manufacturer Audi is contracted to compete as a Formula One team and power unit manufacturer beginning with the 2026 season. Audi F1 Team will be formed through the acquisition of Sauber, with engines developed by Audi Formula Racing GmbH.Audi will take 100% control of Swiss-based Sauber ahead of its transformation into the German carmaker’s factory Formula One team from 2026, the Volkswagen-owned brand said on Friday.Audi is set for a full takeover of the Sauber F1 Team for the 2026 Formula 1 season and beyond. But how will the squad shape up? 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.Formerly named Renault F1 Team and owned by the French automotive company Groupe Renault as well as Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance, the team was rebranded for 2021 to promote Renault’s sports car brand, Alpine, and continues to serve as Renault’s works team, a position the team will keep until Renault pulls out of .Lotus F1 achieved 2 race victories in their time on the grid, both courtesy of Kimi Räikkönen. The team was sold back to Renault on 18 December 2015. The Lotus F1 Team name was officially dropped on 3 February 2016, as Renault announced that the team would compete as Renault Sport Formula One Team.
How much did Audi pay for Sauber F1?
Purchasing the Swiss team while setting up its own bespoke F1 engine facility at the Audi Neuburg base has come at immense cost. Based on the original deal for 75%, acquiring 100% of Sauber has likely cost around $600million. The engine development will likely have a nine-figure cost attached to it too. German car manufacturer Audi is contracted to compete as a Formula One team and power unit manufacturer beginning with the 2026 season. Audi F1 Team will be formed through the acquisition of Sauber, with engines developed by Audi Formula Racing GmbH.Audi will complete its 100% takeover of the Sauber F1 Team before the 2026 F1 season.Latest. German manufacturer Audi have moved to accelerate and expand their commitment to Formula 1 by choosing to take a 100% stake in Swiss operation Sauber, ahead of their arrival in the sport in 2026.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.The power-unit base is in Neuburg an der Donau in Germany and the car design and manufacturing base – currently competing in F1 as Sauber under Audi ownership – is in Hinwil in Switzerland. Audi will formally enter F1 in 2026, when new engine rules that attracted the company come into force.