Audi might start buying stakes in the Sauber F1 team as early as 2023 as part of its F1 entry plans.
Following the finalization of the F1 engine regulations for 2026 during the summer vacation, Audi held a press conference at Spa-Francorchamps and announced that it will participate in F1 as a power unit manufacturer from 2026.
Audi is understood to have decided to partner with Sauber, which now runs the Alfa Romeo F1 team, but Audi’s CEO said at a press conference on Friday that he had yet to make a final decision.
Audi is expected to acquire a stake in Sauber from current owner Finn Rausing.
According to Motorsport-Total.com, the first 25% stake in Sauber might be acquired as early as 2023. Additional stakes will then be acquired in stages, up to 75%, ahead of Audi’s F1 entry in 2026. 25% will be retained by Finn Rausing to retain voting rights.
Following Audi’s announcement on Friday, Alfa Romeo issued a statement confirming that its partnership with Sauber would end “at the end of 2023”, pointing to a new deal between Audi and Sauber.
The move ties in with Audi’s possible acquisition of a stake as early as 2023, ruling out the possibility of the Alfa Romeo logo appearing on a car partially owned by another automaker. .
Alfa Romeo’s withdrawal will change the name of the Sauber-operated team, which has raced under the Alfa Romeo name since the 2019 season.
As in 2010-2018, when the team might return to racing as Sauber and retained its name in 2000 and 2001, despite Benetton already being owned by Renault and A similar situation may arise.
The deal with Sauber has been completed and Audi will be in factory form from 2026 following Audi ruled out the launch of a new team. Audi’s board chairman Markus Duesmann said Friday that “the starting point for development is much better if we start with an existing car”.
