Source: Sipa USA/Motorsport Images
[Saba Sports News] Commencing in 2026, Audi will fully immerse itself
in the world of Formula 1. As of the end of 2023, Audi has acquired a 25% stake
in Sauber. Consequently, the Sauber F1 Team will be rebranded as the Audi F1
Team for the 2026 season. Currently, Audi is actively recruiting talent for its
F1 project. In order to ensure a strong debut in 2026, the German manufacturer
is already providing support to Sauber in various areas of expansion. James
Key, the Technical Director who joined the team in September of the previous
year, revealed that the team has been quietly attracting exceptional talent and
working diligently behind the scenes. These gradual changes will eventually
lead to significant transformations. Fans can expect to be surprised by the
time the 2026 season arrives. Considering that F1 will introduce new
regulations for the 2026 season, Audi is intensifying the development of power
units to be used in F1 starting in 2026. As early as August 2022, Audi established
an independent company dedicated to the research and development of the power
unit project. Essential preparations, including personnel, facilities, and
technical infrastructure, have been completed. Adam Baker, who has spent three
years working for the FIA, has been appointed as the director of this
wholly-owned subsidiary. Audi has already set benchmarks in various motor sports
categories, including WRC, WEC, North American racing, DTM, Le Mans, and FE. If
Audi makes a comeback in F1, it will undoubtedly pose a challenge to the
established leadership of teams like Red Bull Racing and McLaren.