Audi strike deal to partner with Sauber for its Formula One debut in 2026
Audi strike deal to partner with Sauber for its Formula One debut in 2026… with the German car giant taking the baton from Alfa Romeo as they look to ‘write the next chapter’ of the team
- Audi will enter Formula One in 2026 with Sauber becoming their factory team
- The German car giant has targeted 2026 with F1 then under new engine rules
- Audi are plotting to ‘write the next chapter’ for the team post-Alfa Romeo deal
Audi will enter Formula One as Sauber’s works team after they agreed a deal on Wednesday.
Audi, owned by Volkswagen, announced in August that it would enter F1 under new engine rules coming in for 2026, with its own power unit to be built in Neuburg, Bavaria.
While no financial details were disclosed in the statement confirming their agreement with Sauber, they are expected to invest to try and push the team forward as they ‘write the next chapter’.
Audi will be the new brand of Sauber’s F1 team from 2026 after an agreement was reached
Finn Rausing, chairman of Sauber’s board of directors, said: ‘Audi is the best strategic partner for the Sauber Group.
‘It is clear that we share values and a vision, and we look forward to achieving our common goals in a strong and successful partnership.’
Alfa Romeo, the current team partner, is ending its branding of the team after 2023.
In 2024 and 2025, Alfa Romeo will race with Ferrari, its current engine supplier.
Alfa Romeo will scrap their branding of the Sauber team in 2023, with Audi taking it on in 2026
‘I am delighted to welcome Audi to Formula One, said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali back in August. ‘It is an iconic automotive brand, pioneer and technological innovator.
‘This is a major moment for our sport that highlights the huge strength we have as a global platform that continues to grow.
‘It is also a big recognition that our move to sustainably fuelled hybrid engines in 2026 is a future solution for the automotive sector.
‘We are all looking forward to seeing the Audi logo on the grid and will be hearing further details from them on their plans in due course.’
Sauber has been involved in Formula One since 1993 and currently competes with Ferrari engines, under the name of Alfa Romeo, a Stellantis brand.
Audi CEO Markus Duesmann stated that racing was ‘in the DNA of Audi’ at an event in August
F1’s next generation of power units will have significantly more electrical power and use 100 per cent sustainable fuels from 2026.
F1 is also aiming to achieve a net zero carbon footprint by 2030, which Audi chairman Markus Duesmann said in August was a ‘boundary condition’ for the carmaker’s entry.
‘Racing is in the DNA of Audi,’ said Duesmann. ‘If you think about Le Mans, DTM and Formula E, we have always been very active and very successful, and we want to continue this success story in F1.’