After many months of rumors and information about the Volkwsagen Group , Audi revealed at the end of August, at the Belgian GP , its arrival in Formula 1 from the 2026 season, when the category will launch a new engine regulation.
It was assumed from the outset that they would take the place of Alfa Romeo , which is now Sauber ‘s main sponsor and holds the naming rights, but they insisted that they would not reveal which team they would join until the end of the year. And now, on the eve of the penultimate race of the course, it has become official that Audi will partner with Sauber .
Audi will build its power unit at Audi’s Motorsport Competence Center in Neuburg an der Donau, Germany, and Sauber will develop and build the car in Hinwil, Switzerland. In addition, Sauber will also be responsible for creating and executing the plans for the races.
At the presentation of its project in Madrid last week, Audi revealed that they are already working on the future engine, although they insisted that they had not yet decided what chassis it would be on. In Formula 1 2023, the team will remain Alfa Romeo, before a transition stage in 2024 and 2025 under the Sauber name, and the definitive arrival of Audi in 2026. The engines, until that course with the new rules of power units, will continue to be supplied by Ferrari .
In addition, Audi has bought part of the company’s shares. The size and sum of the operation is unknown, but the Swiss celebrated a “cooperation that propels the team to new heights”.
“At the same time, it secures the long-term future of the company: an entity with a dedicated workforce, one of the best wind tunnels in Europe and a world-class production facility for motorsport,” the Sauber statement said. .
From Sauber they see Audi as “the best strategic partner”, and they assure that they share “the same values and the same vision” and hope to “achieve common objectives in a solid and successful association.”
Last month, from the Alfa Romeo account they announced important news for September 27, and although the agreement with Audi was expected to be announced, it was really the renewal of Guanyu Zhou for the 2023 season.
And now, before the Mexican GP, they announced news again for this Wednesday, which was finally the confirmation of the open secret.
Foto de: Audi Communications Motorsport
Foto de: Audi Communications Motorsport
Photo by: Adam Cooper
Photo by: Adam Cooper
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Sam Bloxham/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Sam Bloxham/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Sam Bloxham/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Sam Bloxham/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Sam Bloxham/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Sam Bloxham/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Sam Bloxham/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Sam Bloxham/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Sam Bloxham/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Sam Bloxham/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur admitted that it is a “huge responsibility” to be able to represent the German marque: “The partnership between Audi AG and Sauber Motorsport is an important step for our team as we continue to move towards the front Of the grill”.
“Becoming the official Audi team is not only an honor and a great responsibility, but also the best option for the future. We are confident that we can help Audi achieve the goals they have set for their career in Formula 1. “.
Oliver Hoffmann, a member of the Audi board of directors responsible for the F1 programme, said that Audi’s use of the Sauber wind tunnel for its LMP1 program in the World Endurance Championship and other projects had influenced the decision. to bet on those of Hinwil .
“We are delighted to have secured such an experienced and competent partner for our ambitious F1 project,” said Hoffman.
“We already know the Sauber Group from previous collaborations, with its state-of-the-art facilities and experienced team, and we are convinced that together we will form a strong team.”
Audi hopes to do in 2025, with an F1 test car, the first tests with the power unit by 2026.
