Audi have confirmed that they will enter Formula 1 in 2026, but they have not disclosed which team they will be getting into business with.
Volkswagen, a German car manufacturer, has two subsidiaries – Porsche and Audi – both of whom have expressed their interest in entering the pinnacle of motorsport.
Porsche are understood to be wanting to strike a deal with Red Bull that will see them supply both the main fold and their junior team, AlphaTauri, with engines from the 2026 season.
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They have filed paperwork to purchases shares in Red Bull Technology, earning them a seat at the table, and they have submitted an application to trademark the term “F1nally.”
Should that deal go through, it I expected that the Porsche engineers and mechanics will be working in Red Bull’s newly constructed base in Milton Keynes, which will act as an engine auxiliary to their main factory.
Currently, the Austrian side are having their engines manufactured by Honda after the parties extended their deal until the end of 2025.
Audi were thought to have been wanting to enter F1 with McLaren, but reports that they had agreed a deal to purchase the British side turned out to be false.
Since then, they have been linked with Aston Martin, Williams and Sauber.
Aston Martin are owned by billionaire Lawrence Stroll, so will only sell if the Canadian really wants to, while Dorilton Capital have the Williams team in a solid place financially too.
READ: Audi and Sauber partnership to be announced imminently
The Sauber Group has been a little short on cash for several years; the Alfa Romeo deal helped with that, but they are likely the most susceptible to a takeover bid.
Despite the confirmation that Audi will be in F1 from 2026 though, Audi are yet to reveal whether or not Sauber will be the subject of a buyout.