Audi Will Debut In Formula 1 In 2026

From the 2026 season, German automaker Audi will participate in the Formula 1 World Championship as a power unit supplier.

The project will be based at Audi Sport’s facility in Neuburg near Ingolstadt.
This is the first time in more than a decade that a Formula 1 power train will be built in Germany.
The new technical rules, which will apply from 2026, focus on greater electrification and advanced sustainable fuel.
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At a press conference held at Spa ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development, CEO of Formula One Group Stefano Domenicali, and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced Audi’s entry for 2026.

The announcement follows the publication earlier this month of new power unit regulations, which were created expressly to make it practical and appealing for newcomers to enter the sport at a competitive level.

Globally, there is a lot of interest in Formula 1, making the racing series one of the international sporting events with the most appeal. More than 1.5 billion people watched the races on TV in 2021. Popularity of Formula 1 is growing, even among younger target audiences, in important areas like China and the USA. Formula 1 is currently growing at the fastest rates among the most watched sports on social media.

Audi Formula 1 — The 2026 power units will retain the current V6 internal combustion engine architecture but will have more electrical power and only use 100% sustainable fuels, according to Audi, two elements that were important in it joining. Image: Audi

Audi, a member of the Volkswagen Group, further stated that it supports F1’s objectives to become more cost-effective and environmentally friendly, including the introduction of a cost cap for power unit makers in 2023 and the goal that F1 has set of becoming Net Zero Carbon by 2030.

According to Audi, its Neuburg base already has test stands for evaluating F1 engines as well as electric motors and batteries. By the end of the year, they are working to have the necessary individuals, structures, and technical infrastructure in place. After that, they will have three years to perfect the PU before moving on to F1.

The manufacturer stated that by the end of this year, they will declare which team they will be “lining up with in 2026.”

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