Audi Plans to Enter F1 Starting in 2026, and They Already Have a Car in Mind

Audi officially declared its intentions to participate in the top open-wheel racing series less than a week after Formula 1 accepted new engine regulations that would take effect in 2026. These new engine regulations go into effect at the same time as Audi’s F1 entry.

For the first time in far more than a decade, an F1 powertrain will be put together in Germany when Audi develops its engine at the Audi Sport plant in Neuburg. Counting additional power unit suppliers is one of the declared objectives of the F1’s updated engine rules.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council adopted the future F1 engine regulations that will take effect in 2026 earlier this month. The intricate MGU-H system will be given up due to these new regulations. Manufacturers hesitated to invest heavily in its development because of the system’s limited utility in road vehicles.

Instead, the MGU-K (which stores energy when braking) will produce 350kW, more than three times the amount of electricity now produced by the MGU-H and MGU-K combined. The combustion engine will then produce around 544hp, making the electric motor almost as potent as it is (400kW).

Additionally, according to Audi, the 1.6-liter turbo engine will use entirely sustainable gasoline, which was a requirement for the company’s F1 entry. In addition to the current cost restriction for teams, a cost cap for producers of power units will also be implemented in 2023.

Both CEO Markus Duesmann and technical director Oliver Hoffman have hinted that the development program will inform the development of electrical road cars. Audi will produce its own powertrains at its racing headquarters in Neuburg, Germany.

There have been rumors in the paddock about a possible partnership with Sauber, which presently operates its cars under the Alfa Romeo brand. Audi’s only information is that it will name a partner for 2026 by the end of the current year.

When addressing the media, Duesmann stated: “Audi’s DNA is deeply rooted in the racing world. Our brand uses Formula 1 as a worldwide stage and a challenging development environment. In our sector, innovation and technology transfer are constantly fueled by solid performance and competitiveness.”

The Way That Audi Wants to Take Formula One in…

The release included pictures of a mock-up Formula 1 vehicle with Audi livery. Despite this, don’t take this picture too severely because it might not accurately represent how the 2026 F1 season’s Audi-powered cars will actually look. Despite not fielding a team of its own, Audi will have at least one team with a powertrain.

By the end of 2022, the company promised to announce which team it intends to collaborate with. This team will probably be Sauber, who said today that their technical and business relationship with Alfa Romeo will terminate after the 2023 season. If Alfa Romeo-Sauber could stay in sixth place in the standings, it would have achieved its best performance since 2012.

By the end of the year, these pieces should be in place, enabling Audi three years to get its power unit ready for the start of the 2026 season. The most excellent international racing series is expected to have a significant year in 2026 as Porsche is said to be joining F1 as an engine supplier, maybe with Red Bull Racing.