Sauber F1 team becomes Audi F1

Last summer, Audi announced that it will become an engine supplier in Formula 1 as of 2026. It was already in the air that it would link up with Sauber and now that collaboration has been officially confirmed. Sauber (until next year still active under the Alfa Romeo flag) will be Audi’s factory team from 2026. The team will therefore be renamed, probably to Audi F1, although Audi-Sauber F1 may also be an option.

Audi is not taking over the whole business from Sauber, but is planning to take an interest in the Swiss team. In addition, Audi will probably have a bigger finger in the pie in Switzerland than Alfa Romeo has now. After all, Audi is developing a powertrain for the F1 car itself and will ensure optimal integration in the chassis together with Sauber. Alfa Romeo now buys the engines from Ferrari and essentially the car is the responsibility of Sauber engineers. However, under Audi Sauber remains fully responsible for the design of the car and the course of events on and around the circuits.

Audi emphasizes that work in Neuburg, where it will develop and build the engines, is progressing steadily. The engine facility should open its doors next year. The plan is to start testing in 2025 with the engine that will be installed in Audi’s F1 car in 2026. So the engineers still have some time. Meanwhile, it is pretty quiet again around sister brand Porsche, which initially seemed to enter F1 with Red Bull in 2026. Porsche still plans to enter Formula 1 as an engine supplier that year, but has yet to find a partner.