New Audi CEO breaks silence on rumours of potentially ditching their 2026 F1 entry plans  

Audi aims to buy out Sauber to establish their own Formula One outfit in 2026, as both chassis and engine manufacturer.

New Audi CEO breaks silence on rumours of potentially ditching their 2026 F1 entry plans  

Audi (Via IMAGO)

Audi has long planned to join Formula One, their motorsport team planning to buy out Sauber and enter as a competitive team. After the departure of Alfa Romeo, and the newly-named Stake F1 team Kick Sauber available for purchase, the road is wide open for Audi to enter F1. 

Rumors arose after long-standing Audi CEO Markus Duesmann, who led the F1 project for the German team left the company, that Audi would not be entering the pinnacle of motorsport after all. The new leader of the iconic brand, Gernot Dollner has decided to make it abundantly clear that Audi would not be going anywhere.

There is a clear decision from the board of management and the supervisory boards of Audi and Volkswagen that Audi will enter Formula 1 in 2026.
Gernot Dollner said, as reported by autosport.com

Audi has seen major success in other sections of motorsport, such as touring cars, WRC, and endurance racing. Audi also took the Constructors’ Title in their fourth and final year racing in Formula One’s more eco-friendly counterpart, Formula E.

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Sauber Team Principal explains the reason for doubts over the Audi 2026 entry

The German car company Audi plans to enter Formula One in 2026 with a buyout of the Sauber F1 team, known as Alfa Romeo briefly until 2023. Audi is also projected to manufacture their own power units to support their F1 project to be competitive right off the bat.

Audi
Audi (Credits: RacingNews365)

However, recent doubts over Audi’s entry have led many to question the viability of the project. Despite CEO Audi Gernot Dollner clearing things up himself, Sauber team principal Alessandro Alunni Bravi found it important to make it clear why Sauber has not made any official statements yet. The Italian said that due to their obligations to the departing Alfa Romeo until; the end of 2023, the Sauber group is unable to make any outright announcements until the commencement of 2024.

Why there is a lack of communication is simple. We are Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake. So, until the end of the year, we have certain limitations in communicating about the team, about the future, about the involvement of Audi, and we fully respect Alfa Romeo for this.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi said, as reported by autosport.com

Sauber has been a figure in F1 for a while now, with prolific drivers such as Kimi Raikkonen and Charles Leclerc driving for them. Founded by Peter Sauber in 1993, the Italian team has not left the pinnacle of motorsport since, partnering with popular car manufacturers such as BMW and Alfa Romeo.

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