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Sauber provide update on 2026 Audi project

Audi is set to take over the team as a works entry when the new power unit regulations come into effect.

Sauber has provided an update on the state of the 2026 Audi project, as the team enters a transitional period in Formula 1. Audi is not set to enter F1 until the new engine regulations come into play in 2026, but have recently made an important commitment that will impact the rest of its motorsport activities. The German car-maker ended manufacturer support to other motorsport activities including DTM, Dakar, and GT classes. Sauber Managing Director Alessandro Alunni Bravi gave an update about the state of the project when speaking to media, including RacingNews365 : "The programme is on the right route. We are working hard to develop the team in these next two seasons. "We know that there are constraints linked also to the financial regulations but we are, with Andreas Seidel, addressing all our weaknesses and try to seek all the best opportunities in the market to bring quality into our team and to develop our facilities."

No change since Duesmann departure

Former CEO Markus Duesmann left the company earlier this year and was replaced by Gernot Dollner, sparking some speculation that Audi might change tact on their F1 plans. However, Alunni Bravi says the team is working hard to ensure they are competitive out of the box as rivals Red Bull and Mercedes ramp up development on their 2026 power unit. "The Audi project is based not on a single individual but is a project for all the company that has been, I would say, welcome at any level. And I think that there is no change. We work as a team, all together, to be ready for 2026," he said. "This doesn't mean that the challenge is easy. We have such a strong competitor, we need to be really humble and to work on a daily basis at our best because the competition is extremely high for everybody, and especially in the PU manufacturer side." "I think that the competition in 2026 will be really, really strong. So we just need to be focused on our job and nothing change with the departure of Mr Duesmann."

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