Audi confirm complete Sauber F1 takeover

Audi has officially confirmed that it plans to complete its acquisition of the Sauber organisation ahead of its 2026 Formula 1 entry.

The German manufacturer will take over Sauber’s F1 operations in two years when new technical regulations will take effect.

In late 2022, Audi verified its plans to enter F1 for the 2026 campaign and declared it had entered a strategic agreement with Sauber.

At the time, Sauber’s F1 presence ran under the Alfa Romeo moniker before the Italian company departed the grid at the end of last year in light of the impending Sauber-Audi partnership.

The Hinwil-based squad is now operating as the Stake F1 Team before transitioning to a fully-fledged Audi works team in 2026.

Over the last several months there were mumblings Audi was getting cold feet over its entry, particularly when Markus Duesmann, who was integral to the origins of the project, was replaced as Audi CEO.

Replacement Gernot Dollner, however, declared late last year that its plans to join the grid were unchanged.

With the takeover of Sauber set to be completed, Audi's commitment has been reiterated and accelerated as it continues to prepare for its F1 debut.

General representative Oliver Hoffman said: “I would like to thank the entire team at Technical Development for the great performance in recent years, and I am proud of the outstanding products resulting from our intensive work that we will bring to the streets in the coming months.

"Motorsport, particularly Formula 1, is my big passion. I am convinced that by bundling responsibilities and taking over 100 per cent of Sauber Group, we will further accelerate our preparations for the launch in 2026."

Andreas Seidl has been confirmed as Audi F1's CEO. Hoffman added: "I am pleased we were able to secure the services of Andreas Seidl as Audi F1 Team CEO. He is exactly the right man for our ambitious plan.

"Thanks to his broad experience from leadership roles on the manufacturer and Formula 1 team side, he will make a significant contribution to Audi’s Formula 1 project.”

Seidl commented: “I thank Gernot Döllner and Oliver Hoffmann for their trust and am looking forward to leading Audi into Formula 1 together with a highly motivated team as CEO of the Audi F1 Team.

"We have a clear roadmap for how we want to become competitive in Hinwil as well as in Neuburg. We have ambitious goals. Realization of them is in progress and will be further accelerated through the complete takeover of Sauber by AUDI AG.”