WELCOME TO THE TOP TIER

World motorsport governing body the Fédération Internationale de l’automobile and management of F1 have long been looking at ways to make the premier class more sustainable and its efforts have attracted more manufacturers to the glamour and glory of the world championship series SAUBER–AUDI

Last year, Audi announced its intention to join motorsport’s premier formula at the Belgian Grand Prix after the change to F1’s technical regulations for 2026. It would later emerge that Audi would partner with the Sauber team, which currently operates as Alfa Romeo Racing, after purchasing a small stake in the Swiss outfit.

Audi Sport will continue to use Sauber’s Hinwil facility. It includes a wind tunnel vital for success in Formula One, but the power unit will be built at an expanded version of the Neuburg an der Donau site in Germany, not too far from company headquarters in nearby Ingolstadt. Neuburg is the facility responsible for developing the powertrains that led Audi to an unprecedented run of wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As Audi has turned away from efforts at Le Mans, it has not focused its full attention on F1.

With many successful campaigns at the World Rally Championship in the ‘80s, IMSA and touring cars in the ‘90s, and Le Mans at the turn of the century, more recently, Audi Sport has turned to the gruelling Dakar Rally to prove its EV racing potential.

“Formula 1 is the next major milestone in Audi’s motorsport history,” says Audi Sport managing director Julius Seebach.

RED BULL-FORD

After a 20-year-long hiatus, the Blue Oval will return to Formula One to partner with Red Bull Powertrains and help develop the hybrid power unit that will drive the Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Alphatauri team cars from 2026 until 2030.

The revised technical regulations for 2026 include a 350 kw electric motor and combustion engine compatible with sustainable fuels, and Ford’s expertise in powertrains will be vital to the success of the Red Bull outfit. Ford’s management has already set aside $50 billion in a bid for EV market dominance, as it is already the number-two EV manufacturer in its domestic market.

“F1 will be an incredibly cost-effective platform to innovate, share ideas and technologies, and engage with tens of millions of new customers,” explained Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford Motor Company.

As one of the last manufacturers to have ties with motorsport at all levels, it’s interesting to see how Ford will use F1 to improve its efforts at Le Mans, NASCAR and Australian Supercars. Will they win on Sunday and sell on Monday? Time will tell.