Audi’s F1 Entry Preparations: Full Speed Ahead For 2026

With the 2026 Formula 1 season drawing near, Audi is making serious preparations for what is expected to be an extremely eagerly awaited entry into the world’s most prestigious motorsport championship. Not leaving any stone unturned, the German automotive giant is gearing up to join the F1 grid both as a power unit supplier and constructor by taking over the current Sauber operation.

Power Unit Development in Full Swing

At the core of Audi’s F1 project is the development of its power unit, which is progressing in giant strides at the company’s facility in Neuburg, Germany. “The power unit—a combustion engine, electric motor, battery, and control electronics—already runs dynamically on the test bench,” says Audi Formula Racing CEO Adam Baker.

This is quite remarkable, considering the pace at which this development has been carried out, as Baker said: “The Audi Power Unit has already covered simulated race distances on the test bench.” All this has been achieved in just two years of development—a big achievement that signifies a great deal about the team’s effort and efficiency.

State-of-the-Art Testing Facilities

The test benches at Audi Neuburg total 22 units that provide comprehensive testing in simulated conditions, just like in real racing. These advanced tools give important insight into how power units will react to various kinds of stress during races.

CTO Stefan Dreyer underlined the importance of such facilities: “We run the Power Unit on the test bench with different layouts from the current F1 calendar, depending on the purpose of the test.” This approach allows the team to fine-tune the combustion engine and ERS components for optimal performance across diverse track layouts.

Development of Sustainable Fuel

Following the F1 series to improve sustainability, Audi has been into fuel development since 2022. In developing the new specification for 100% sustainable fuels required by the sport, they work together with an experienced F1 fuel supplier. It also aligns with Audi’s wider corporate goals on the same, and thus they decided to take part in the races.

Two-Site Operation

The Audi F1 team will operate from two main facilities:

Hinwil, Switzerland: The current Sauber headquarters will play an important role in it. This facility has a wind tunnel and is built on a 15,600 square meter area and is in charge of chassis construction.

Neuburg, Germany: This 3,000 square meter facility, which became operational in 2014, houses the development of the power unit. Currently, there are close to 300 staff at this facility working on the F1 project.

Team Structure and Leadership

Audi has been putting together a management team comprising highly experienced professionals to lead the F1 project. Andreas Seidl will be the CEO of the Audi F1 Team, coming loaded with experience from his time with McLaren and Porsche’s LMP1 program.

The company also did something very significant this year when they signed Nico Hulkenberg, a driver, arguably making the official kick-start of their journey to build up to a good 20266 squad.

Revised Expectations and Long-Term Vision

Although Audi had initially planned on winning within three years since its entry into the competition, it revised its strategy to have more feasible goals recently. “We realize that this will take several years,” said Gernot Dollner, chief executive of Audi.5

This pragmatic approach is representative of the awareness of Audi in regard to the various complexities that exist in F1, coupled with a firm commitment to laying solid grounds for success over the long haul.

Investment and Ownership

More recently, Audi has further solidified its commitment to F1 with the decision to take a 100% stake in the Sauber Group. This will see the German manufacturer having full control over the operations and development of the team.

Besides, the project lured serious investments from outside: Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund acquired a minority stake believed to be at about 30% in the team. This investment means not only more capital but also underlines the global appeal and potential of Audi’s F1 venture.

Challenges and Opportunities

New F1 manufacturer Audi stands out at the challenges and opportunities upon its entry. Audi will not only have to adjust to this high level of competition and its high pace very fast, but it is coming with immense motorsport knowledge built around the Le Mans and Formula E championships.

According to Mattia Binotto, former Ferrari team boss, Audi did a very good job with the development of its engine but added that when it hit the track in 2026-5, it would experience some kind of learning curve and also face some sort of performance gap in the beginning.

Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond

While Audi is still preparing for the 2026 F1 season, one can only feel great excitement within the team and its fans. It will actually coincide with big changes in regulations—new electrical power in F1, plus the addition of 100% sustainable fuels—just what exactly fits into the technical objectives of Audi and the company’s aspiration for sustainability.

The next couple of years will be a defining period for Audi as they fine-tune their power unit, develop their first F1 chassis, and build a team capable of competing at the highest level of motorsport. While the road ahead may be fraught with challenges, Audi’s methodical approach, significant investment, and long-term vision suggest that they are well-placed to make a substantial impact in Formula 1.

The world will be watching Audi closely come 2026 as it translates all its knowledge in the automotive sector, coupled with the racing pedigree that has been inculcated within the team. The inclusion of such a prestigious manufacturer to the grid surely offers new excitement, innovation, and competition at the pinnacle of motorsport, possibly altering the landscape of F1 for many years to come.