Formula 1: The Four Rings back Sauber 🎥
ALL CLEAR The next important milestone on the road to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship has been reached: Audi has chosen Sauber as its strategic partner for the project and plans to acquire a stake in the Sauber Group.
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. Audi is targeting overall victory in the desert next year.
As a result of the partnership, the traditional Swiss racing team will compete as an Audi factory team from 2026 and use the drive unit developed by Audi in the top class of motorsport. With around 30 years of competitive experience, Sauber is one of the most renowned and traditional teams in Formula 1.
While the power unit will be built at Audi's Motorsport Competence Center in Neuburg an der Donau, Sauber will develop and manufacture the race car in Hinwil. Sauber will also be responsible for planning and executing the racing operations.
An experienced and competent partner
Oliver Hoffmann, Board Member for Technical Development at Audi AG (center gallery): "We are delighted to have gained such an experienced and competent partner for our ambitious Formula 1 project. We already know the Sauber Group with its state-of-the-art site and experienced team from previous collaborations and are convinced that together we will form a strong team."
For example, Audi Sport regularly used the Sauber Group's high-tech wind tunnel in Hinwil, just four hours away by car, during the successful Le Mans era and during the development of the Class 1 touring car for the DTM.
Finn Rausing, Chairman of Sauber Holding: "Audi is the best partner for the Sauber Group. It is clear that both companies share the same values and vision. We look forward to achieving our common goals with a strong and successful partnership."
Formula Racing GmbH supplies Power Unit
Development of the power unit, which consists of electric motor, battery, control electronics and combustion engine, is in full swing at the site of the specially founded Audi Formula Racing GmbH in Neuburg an der Donau. A team is already working on the project.
Adam Baker, Managing Director of the company: "Sauber is a first-class partner for the use of the Audi Power Unit. We are looking forward to working with an experienced team that has helped shape many eras of Formula 1 history. Together, we want to write the next chapter from 2026."
Expansion of the Neuburg site in full swing
The timetable until the first race with Audi participation in the 2026 season is ambitious: The expansion of the site in Neuburg in terms of personnel, buildings and technical infrastructure is to be largely in place by 2023. The first tests with the power unit developed for the 2026 regulations in a Formula 1 test car are planned for 2025.
Sustainability was a basic requirement
Formula 1 is taking a big step toward sustainability with the new regulations that will apply from 2026. This was an important basic requirement for Audi to decide to enter the racing series. The powertrains will be more efficient than today because the share of electric power will increase sharply.
The electric drive then has almost as much power as the combustion engine, which comes to 400 kW (544 hp). The highly efficient 1.6-liter turbocharged engines are powered by sustainable synthetic fuel that is CO2 neutral. Formula 1 has also set itself the goal of being CO2-neutral as a racing series by 2030.
