The German manufacturer Audi announced on Wednesday that it is joining forces with Sauber, which it will gradually acquire to become its own team in 2026.
Little revolution to come in the world of Formula 1! In 2026, Audi will be one of the teams in the paddock, after having gradually acquired Sauber. The German car manufacturer and the Swiss team, which is running this season under the colors of Alfa Romeo, announced their partnership on Wednesday. Last August, Audi revealed that it would supply engines from 2026 but it will ultimately be a larger project that will be developed, as announced on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Mexican Grand Prix, which will be held on Sunday. “We already know the Sauber Group with its state-of-the-art facilities and experienced team from previous collaborations (Mercedes in 1994, Ford in 1995-96, BMW from 2006 to 2010, editor’s note) and are convinced that together we will form a solid team”, rejoiced Oliver Hoffmann, the head of the F1 program at Audi.
Alfa Romeo sixth constructor this season
From 2026, Audi will develop its engine near Neuburg, Germany, while Sauber will take care of the chassis in Hinwill, Switzerland. “In the medium term, we are going to become a factory team, which will change our status, confides the French boss of Sauber, Frédéric Vasseur, in the columns of The team. From 2026, we will be much closer to our engine manufacturer and manage much greater financial resources than before. We will change category but also objectives. We will have to think bigger in terms of results and structure. This will allow us to align with the budget cap and take a huge step forward in development. Until 2026, Sauber will continue to work with Alfa Romeo next season and will still be equipped with Ferrari engines until 2025, before entering a new world with Audi. The Swiss team, with Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou as drivers, is only sixth in the current constructors’ standings. There is no doubt that with Audi, ambitions will be higher, and big names could arrive.