Audi: Welcome to Formula 1 from 2026 🎥

The project will be based at Audi Sport's site in Neuburg an der Donau near Ingolstadt. This will be the first time in more than a decade that a Formula 1 powertrain has been built in Germany.

GP sport as a demanding development laboratory
Audi announced the entry on Friday morning ahead of the Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps. At the event, Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, and Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development, answered questions in the presence of Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali and Mohammed ben Sulayem, President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

Markus Duesmann: "Motorsport is an integral part of Audi's DNA. Formula 1 is both a global stage for our brand and a demanding development laboratory. The combination of high performance and competition is always a driver for innovation and technology transfer in our industry. With the new regulations, now is exactly the right time for us to enter. Because Formula 1 and Audi are both pursuing clear sustainability goals."

Actively shaping the transformation of Formula 1
Crucial to the entry is that the world's most popular racing series becomes more sustainable and cost-efficient. The new technical regulations, which will apply from 2026, focus on greater electrification and sustainable fuel.

In addition to the existing cost cap for teams, a cost cap for power unit manufacturers will be anchored in the regulations in 2023. Formula 1 has also set itself the ambitious goal of becoming a CO2-neutral racing series by 2030.

Oliver Hoffmann: "In view of the major technological leaps that the series will make toward sustainability in 2026, one can speak of a new Formula 1. Formula 1 is transforming itself and Audi wants to actively accompany this journey. A close link between our Formula 1 project and AUDI AG's Technical Development will enable synergies."

Requirements met
From 2026, the proportion of electric power in the power unit, consisting of electric motor, battery, control electronics and combustion engine, will increase sharply compared with today's Formula One powertrains.

The electric drive will then have nearly as much power as the combustion engine, which comes to around 400 kW (544 hp). The highly efficient 1.6-liter turbocharged engines will run on sustainable synthetic fuel - another Audi requirement for entry.

The power unit will be built at Audi Sport's state-of-the-art motorsport competence center in Neuburg an der Donau, not far from AUDI AG's corporate headquarters in Ingolstadt. This site already has test rigs for Formula 1 engines, high-performance electric motors and batteries.

Sauber with Audi instead of Alfa Romeo?

The necessary expansion in terms of personnel, buildings and technical infrastructure is currently being undertaken there, and all the essentials should be in place by the end of the year. A separate company was recently established for the power unit project as a 100%ige subsidiary of Audi Sport.

Audi will communicate a decision as to which team will compete in 2026 by the end of the year. Sauber Motorsport in Hinwil, where there is an optimum infrastructure already used by Audi for the Le Mans prototypes, for example, is certainly one of the options. Especially since Alfa Romeo announced its cooperation with Sauber Motorsport as of the end of 2023 only two hours after Audi's announcement..,

F1 decision determines motorsport direction
Audi Sport is pooling its resources for the Formula 1 project. Audi is therefore discontinuing its LMDh project. Audi Sport had already suspended development of the sports car for endurance racing recently.

In addition to customer sport, Audi Sport will continue its innovation project with the RS Q e-tron in the Dakar Rally. Next year, Audi is targeting overall victory in the desert.

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