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A amusement exemplary Audi Formula 1 car connected Aug. 26 2022 successful Belgium aft announcing its information successful the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium.
Sem van der Wal | ANP | Getty Images
Audi's introduction into Formula 1 has moved a measurement person aft the German car shaper acquired a number involvement successful Sauber.
The acquisition comes 3 months aft Sauber confirmed they would go Audi's strategical spouse erstwhile the German marque enters Formula 1 successful 2026.
The Swiss constructor's existent concern with Alfa Romeo volition extremity aft the coming season.
"This is an important milestone connected the mode to Audi's introduction successful Formula One, scheduled for 2026, for which the Sauber Group volition beryllium the German brand's strategical partner," Sauber said successful a statement.
Sauber volition tally with Ferrari powerfulness units successful 2024 and 2025, earlier Audi steps in.
Speaking successful October, then-Sauber squad main Frederic Vasseur described the concern arsenic the "best enactment for the future."
"To go Audi's authoritative works squad is not lone an grant and a large responsibility, it's the champion enactment for the aboriginal and we are afloat assured we tin assistance Audi execute the objectives they person acceptable for their travel successful Formula 1," helium said.
On Jan. 14, Andreas Seidl replaced Vasseur as Sauber's main enforcement aft the second joined Ferrari, and volition oversee Audi's introduction into F1.
It is Sauber's 2nd afloat works statement aft their link-up with BMW successful the 2000s, with proprietor Finn Rausing insisting Audi were the "best strategical partner" for the company.
The extremity present volition beryllium to instrumentality to astatine slightest the precocious midfield.
Sauber, who archetypal debuted successful Formula 1 successful 1993, partnered with Alfa Romeo successful 2018 but person inactive been operating astatine a smaller fund than astir each of their rivals, and person been towards the backmost of the grid since.
A link-up with Audi volition surely assistance their cause, with the carmaker processing engines from their German base, and the chassis inactive expected to beryllium developed astatine Sauber's Switzerland base.
The caller procreation of F1 engines volition diagnostic accrued electrical powerfulness and 100% sustainable fuels.
"We are delighted to person gained specified an experienced and competent spouse for our ambitious Formula 1 project," said Audi committee subordinate Oliver Hoffman, who is liable for the F1 programme astatine firm level.
In a connection sent to Sky Sports, an Audi spokesperson said this is simply a "key milestone" for the German's F1 introduction successful 2026.
"As portion of the acquisition, Julius Seebach joined the Sauber committee of directors arsenic the authoritative typical of the Audi AG," the connection added.
Last week, it was announced that Alessandro Alunnni Bravi would instrumentality up a elder enactment role under Seidl, which volition spot him instrumentality connected media duties during the 2023 seasons.
Alunni Bravi who is besides managing manager of the Sauber Group that runs the Swiss-based team, has been fixed the authoritative rubric of squad representative.
Sauber vie arsenic Alfa Romeo successful what is efficaciously a rubric sponsorship with the Stellantis-owned brand. That woody is owed to extremity aft the 2023 play with the squad owed to contention arsenic Audi from 2026.
Audi confirmed successful August they would beryllium entering Formula 1 in 4 years arsenic a powerfulness portion supplier and had been antecedently linked with a concern with McLaren.
Fellow Volkswagen marque Porsche, meanwhile, saw a woody autumn done with Red Bull but inactive clasp an F1 interest.
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