Audi is daring to bounce into Method 1. On Friday, the Volkswagen subsidiary officially announced its commitment to the 2026 racing sequence. “I’m really happy to be here for this really, truly distinctive minute,” stated Audi CEO Markus Duesmann all through a press conference ahead of the Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, along with the bosses of the racing sequence: “We’ll be in Method 1 in 2026 push.”

In considerably less than four a long time, Audi will be on the grid, which is not that extended, mentioned Duesmann. The auto manufacturer has not but named the lover for its plans. Nevertheless, he is predicted to be a part of the Swiss racing crew Sauber, which is at this time lively as an Alfa Romeo staff in the leading motorsport class. “Audi will talk a selection as to which staff to begin with in 2026 by the end of the yr,” Audi claimed in a push launch.

System 1 experienced produced it palatable for car or truck makers like Audi to get started out. From 2023, the tightened finances limit will drop even more to $135 million for each racing crew. It would make finding started out monetarily much easier to program. A great deal much more significant: The racing sequence has designed a rule compromise. From 2026, the hybrid engines are to be operated with 100 per cent sustainable gasoline. The combustion motor in the unit really should only contribute 50 % of the energy, the rest is electric powered.

The motivation is controversial internally, in particular the designs for a begin with two VW subsidiaries

That suits with the foreseeable future direction of the vehicle market. “With the new rules, now is just the appropriate time for us to get started out. Mainly because Components 1 and Audi are both of those pursuing obvious sustainability aims,” defined Duesmann. Racing sequence manager Stefano Domenicali raved about a good day at the Pk in Belgium. Planet Affiliation boss Mohammed bin Sulayem spoke of “a milestone”.

With the transformation to electromobility, the XXL undertaking System 1 can apparently also be marketed internally. “We received the guarantee that we would get extra income to Wolfsburg with Components 1 than with out Formula 1,” said the outgoing VW boss Herbert Diess. At the commencing of April, the board of administrators and supervisory board of the dad or mum business Volkswagen gave the green light-weight for Audi and Porsche to strategy “for a attainable entry into Method 1”.

Yet, the dedication is controversial internally, especially the programs for a begin with two subsidiaries. Porsche will almost certainly kind an alliance with the Crimson Bull team of planet winner Max Verstappen. The crux of the issue was the long run engine rules. Founded companies such as Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault want to protect against the technical competitive rewards they have designed in excess of the a long time from dwindling and therefore reducing their investments.

In the course of the summertime split, nevertheless, the principles had been eventually permitted by the Motorsport Earth Council. But Audi possibly will not get in for a journey. With the commitment, which expenses hundreds of thousands and thousands of euros, you want to display off your technical superiority. The promotionally powerful radiance of Formula 1 only truly unfolds if it is productive. “Motorsport is an integral portion of the Audi DNA,” reported Duesmann: “Formula 1 is each a international phase for our manufacturer and a demanding growth laboratory.”