Audi has selected team Sauber to partner with for the German carmaker’s entry into Formula 1. Audi will acquire a stake in the Sauber racing team, and it will be racing as the Audi factory team from 2026. Audi will supply the engines for the cars.

Earlier this year, Audi had announced their entry into Formula 1. As part of the agreement, the power unit will be created at Audi’s Motorsport Competence Center in Neuburg an der Donau. At the same time, Sauber will develop and manufacture the race car at its site in Hinwil, Switzerland. Furthermore, Sauber will be responsible for the day-to-day race operations. Sauber has over 30 years of racing experience in the premier class.

Audi Sauber collaboration is not new

Audi and the Sauber Group have been collaborating with Audi in other areas for a while now. Audi Sport has been using the Swiss team’s wind tunnel at Hinwil during its Le Mans era as well as while developing their Class 1 touring car for the DTM series.

Over 120 employees are already working in full swing at the new facility, mainly founded for Audi Formula Racing GmbH in Neuburg an der Donau. The power unit, consisting of an electric motor, battery, combustion engine and control systems, will be developed at the facility.

Expansion of Neuburg facility

In anticipation of the 2026 debut of the team, there would be an expansion of the Sauber’s Neuburg facility by 2023. Additional personnel, buildings and technical infrastructure would be added. The first tests for the power units are planned for 2025.

New Challenges in Formula 1

With new norms coming in for 2026, teams will have to develop electric motors as powerful as the internal combustion engines. The engines would need to be even more efficient and will be powered by sustainable synthetic fuel that is CO2-neutral. Formula 1 has also set itself the goal of being CO2-neutral as a racing series by 2030.

Also Read – Audi and Porsche entering Formula 1 in 2026