Audi has announced that it will be making a return to Formula One come 2026 as a power unit supplier.
The firm states that it will compete in the 2026 FIA Formula World Championship with a specially developed power unit, and that this motorsport operation will be based at Audi Sport's facility in Neuburg near Ingolstadt, marking the first time in more than a decade, Audi states, that a Formula One power train will be built in Germany.
Audi states that it has decided to join Formula One as the motorsport series shifts its focus to greater electrification and the use of sustainable fuel The firm also states that the decision to participate in 2026 comes as the competition itself will apply new rules from the year.
These changes include an increase in the electric power output for the power units of the competing cars, allowing their electric motors to be as powerful as the combustion engine. The 1.6-litre units will also run on advanced sustainable fuel from 2026 onwards, a prerequisite for Audi's entry into the series.
These changes come alongside the existing cap on costs for teams, as well as a cost cap for power unit manufacturers will be introduced in 2023. Audi states that Formula One's goal of turning itself into a carbon-neutral racing series by 2030 also motivated its entry.
Adam Baker will lead the new Audi Sport subsidiary founded to develop the new power unit of the Formula One car Of course, Formula One's globally recognised status, and the fact that it is experiencing the highest growth rates among the world's most popular sports on social media are also cited as motivating factors for Audi's participation in the series.
Audi has also announced that the power unit which will go into its race vehicle will be built at Audi Sport's state-of-the-art Competence Centre Motorsport in Neuburg an der Donau, Germany, not far from Audi AG's company headquarters in Ingolstadt.
It states that there are already test benches for Formula One engine testing as well as for electric motor and battery testing. Additional necessary preparations are also currently being made for personnel, buildings, and technical infrastructure, and Audi is expecting everything essential to be in place by the end of 2022.
Audi additionally states that it will announce a decision on which team they will be lining up with in 2026 by the end of 2022.
The firm states that it will compete in the 2026 FIA Formula World Championship with a specially developed power unit, and that this motorsport operation will be based at Audi Sport's facility in Neuburg near Ingolstadt, marking the first time in more than a decade, Audi states, that a Formula One power train will be built in Germany.
These changes include an increase in the electric power output for the power units of the competing cars, allowing their electric motors to be as powerful as the combustion engine. The 1.6-litre units will also run on advanced sustainable fuel from 2026 onwards, a prerequisite for Audi's entry into the series.
These changes come alongside the existing cap on costs for teams, as well as a cost cap for power unit manufacturers will be introduced in 2023. Audi states that Formula One's goal of turning itself into a carbon-neutral racing series by 2030 also motivated its entry.
Audi has also announced that the power unit which will go into its race vehicle will be built at Audi Sport's state-of-the-art Competence Centre Motorsport in Neuburg an der Donau, Germany, not far from Audi AG's company headquarters in Ingolstadt.
It states that there are already test benches for Formula One engine testing as well as for electric motor and battery testing. Additional necessary preparations are also currently being made for personnel, buildings, and technical infrastructure, and Audi is expecting everything essential to be in place by the end of 2022.
Audi additionally states that it will announce a decision on which team they will be lining up with in 2026 by the end of 2022.
