The Volkswagen Group confirmed its intentions to enter Formula 1 with the arrival of the new regulations from the 2026 season, where the hybrid power units will change significantly after 12 years. The German company hopes to be present with two of its most powerful brands, Porsche and Audi , but they have not yet specified how they will do it.
It was rumored that Audi could have its own team in the highest category of motorsports, but also that it could acquire McLaren or even that it would be willing to negotiate with another legendary on the grid, Williams.
The Stuttgart firm, meanwhile, was closely linked with Red Bull to supply engines, leaving Honda behind and collaborating with the engine division that bears its own name, Red Bull Powertrains.
That would be a fairly realistic option for the Germans after learning from Porsche CFO Lutz Meschke that they would only work with “a strong partner,” a requirement the energy drink team meets perfectly.
“If we are going to be in the top flight of motorsport, we will be with someone strong,” explained the 56-year-old Hilden boss, who has been linked to Porsche since 2001.
From the other side of the table, at Red Bull, his boss, Christian Horner , said at the time that the negotiations with the two German car companies “made sense”, in addition to being happy about the interest in being in Formula 1 .
“It’s fantastic that they want to enter the category,” said the Briton. “We are starting a new adventure as a power unit manufacturer for 2026, so it makes sense to discuss possible collaborations.”
The head of Porsche, Oliver Blume , also gave the reasons for the attempt to enter Formula 1, and one of them was the growing expansion throughout the world: “More than 1,500 million people watched the races last year, It is the sport that attracts the most attention.
Those words were in agreement with those of the president of Volkswagen, Herbert Diess , who has seen how Formula 1 has increased its popularity exponentially in a country as important for the automotive industry as the United States.
“They are progressing in a very positive way,” he explained. “Together with Netflix marketing, they have driven the category in the US. Asia is also growing significantly, even with younger customers.”
“If you look at the major sporting or other events in the world, it’s only Formula 1 that really matters in motorsport, and the gap is getting bigger and bigger,” Diess continued. “If you are in the industry, you must be present in Formula 1 because the biggest impact is there.”
“You can’t get in unless there’s a change in the rules, because then everyone starts from the same place,” the Volkswagen chairman said. “As [Audi president] Markus Duesman always said, you earn a second a year on the circuit by optimizing details, but you can’t do that as a new team.
“You need five or ten years to be ahead. In other words, you can only enter when there is a change in the regulations, which will come in 2026 with more electrified biofuel cars, and where a development of about three or four years is needed. to make a new engine,” he explained.
“That’s why you can decide that you enter Formula 1 now, but you probably won’t be able to do it for another decade. Our two main brands think it’s the right thing to do, and they are prioritizing it,” said the president of the German group.
