Formula 1 really is an incredibly exciting proposition for any business currently, given how much the sport has grown since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The sport is growing like never before in both the Middle East and the United States, resulting in more manufacturers wanting to jump onto the F1 bandwagon.
It was announced earlier in the year by the Volkswagen group that both Audi and Porsche were wanting to join the sport from 2026; however, the duo were set to be targeting very different approaches to the championship.
Audi were keen to come into the sport as a majority shareholder of a team, effectively meaning they had their own side in the championship; however, Porsche wanted to instantly partner one of the leading teams in the sport.
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The pair were targeting 2026, as that is when the new power unit regulations will be introduced, with the engines set to become more sustainably friendly.
Audi were soon confirmed as an F1 power unit manufacturer from 2026 by the sport’s hierarchy, following an unveiling at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The famous German carmaker are set to takeover the current Alfa Romeo side, effectively given the Germans their very own team.
Porsche; however, are facing a steeper challenge to officially join the championship, after their preferred deal broke down.
It was widely expected that Porsche would partner Red Bull, thus becoming their power unit supplier from 2026.
It suddenly came to light, though, that this deal wouldn’t happen, after it was revealed that the Germans were simply demanding too much from the Austrians.
Porsche were wanting a 50-percent stake in the leading side and also wanted Red Bull mechanics to have limited say over their power units, something that reportedly made chief technology officer Adrian Newey wary.
With the deal having broken down, it was believed that Porsche had ended their 2026 ambitions; however, this apparently isn’t the case, according to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
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Ben Sulayem revealed in London that Porsche are “in discussions” with multiple teams about joining the championship, something that will be fascinating to keep an eye on.
“At Spa-Francorchamps in August, Audi announced it was joining the FIA Formula One World Championship from 2026 as a power unit manufacturer,” Ben Sulayem said after a World Motor Sport Council meeting in London.
“This announcement was an endorsement of the hard work by all stakeholders to develop those (new power unit) regulations. We also note that Porsche are still in discussions with Formula 1 teams,” he added.