F1: Volkswagen to F1 in 2026 ‘confirmed’ (4th Update)
(GMM) Volkswagen has officially “confirmed” its intention to see the Audi and Porsche brands on the Formula 1 grid in 2026.
We have reported for weeks and months that McLaren could tie up with Audi, while the similarly VW-owned Porsche is eyeing a works deal with Red Bull.
The issue came to a head in Volkswagen’s supervisory board meeting on Thursday.
“The board of directors and supervisory board of Volkswagen AG, Porsche AG and Audi AG have confirmed the plans of the two group brands for a possible entry into Formula 1,” Volkswagen told us.
“The Audi and Porsche brands will provide details at a later date.”
Indeed, the deals are contingent not only on signing contracts with the F1 teams, but the world’s second-largest carmaker is also waiting for the FIA to ratify the altered engine rules for 2026.
“A decision on entry has not yet been made,” an Audi spokesman clarified. “We are in the final phase of the evaluation.
“The new regulations for 2026 and subsequent years are not yet available. They provide for far-reaching changes for more sustainable sport, which is a prerequisite for a possible entry by Audi.
“To this end, Audi Sport is in contact with the FIA and as soon as a decision has been made, we will announce it.”
While the Red Bull-Porsche deal appears to be set in stone, it is believed Audi’s negotiations with McLaren have in fact broken down despite the exchange of an eye-watering EUR 650 million offer.
F1 legend Gerhard Berger thinks McLaren would simply have been reluctant to give up too much in making a deal.
“McLaren is a very strong brand with a great history in motorsport,” he told motorsport-total.com. “I don’t think that such an asset would be allowed to disappear.”
Auto Motor und Sport quoted an insider as saying: “Maybe Audi only wants McLaren to believe the deal is off.”
Nevertheless, rumors of new talks between Audi and the Sauber (Alfa Romeo) and Aston Martin teams are now emerging.
As for Red Bull-Porsche, Berger said: “I think that’s going to happen, and it would be a great combination.
“From a marketing point of view alone, Porsche and Red Bull go together so well. It’s fresh and cool.
“Porsche fits with Red Bull 100,000 times better than with Renault,” he added.
April 7, 2022
Audi and Porsche will not fully agree to enter F1 until the 2026 F1 engine regulations are finalized.
In a short statement issued after Thursday’s meeting, it was confirmed that both Audi and Porsche discussed plans for a ‘potential F1 entry’.
It said: “This gives our company the opportunity to demonstrate “Vorsprung durch Technik” in the pinnacle of motorsport from 2026.
“We have not yet made a decision as we are currently in the final evaluation phase. At this point, the new regulations for 2026 and subsequent years are not yet available. These will set out far-reaching changes to make the sport more sustainable, which is a prerequisite for Audi’s possible entry.
“Audi Sport is discussing these matters directly with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). Our decision will be announced as soon it has been made.”
April 7, 2022
(GMM) Formula 1 is now tantalizingly close to officially welcoming Volkswagen – the world’s second-largest carmaker – to the grid for 2026.
While F1 congregates in Melbourne, the German giant’s supervisory board is meeting back in Europe on Thursday, where it is expected that Audi and Porsche will get the green light for two separate Formula 1 forays.
One will be with McLaren in a reported EUR 650 million deal, while Porsche is expected to sign up as Red Bull’s works engine partner.
“However, nothing is to be announced after the meeting,” Sky Deutschland reports, “since the negotiation process will probably last until the summer.”
But the April 7 board meeting will almost certainly be confirmation of VW’s approval for the deals, pending formalization of significantly new engines rules in F1 for 2026.
“We’ve heard that the two projects have already been completed internally,” former F1 driver Marc Surer told Sport1.
“Now the group just has to say ‘Yes, you can do it’. This is about the long-term planning of the group.”
Former Mercedes F1 chief Norbert Haug commented: “VW has recognized what kind of marketing tool Formula 1 is.”
Surer agrees: “These are two brands that have to go racing. And they’ve chosen good partners.
“When I think that Andreas Seidl is already team boss at McLaren with his German connections, I just have to smile. And Red Bull and Porsche are also very close. It just fits.”
Some rumors suggest Audi alone is prepared to spend a billion euros on the new F1 project.
“The presence and reach of Formula 1 through advertising is almost priceless,” Surer said. “That’s why it makes sense.”
March 31, 2022
Audi and Porsche owner Volkswagen is likely to give the green light for the two brands to make their entry into motor racing’s Formula One at a meeting next week, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
“We will hopefully be able to communicate our intention to enter into Formula One then,” one of the sources said, with the second adding there was a “good chance” of a positive decision.
Volkswagen declined to comment. The news was first reported by Business Insider.
March 22, 2022
(GMM) Stefano Domenicali is expecting more news about Volkswagen entering Formula 1 in 2026 “soon”.
The F1 CEO was speaking as Audi board member Oliver Hoffman told Automobilwoche that the VW-owned German luxury carmaker is actively considering a F1 foray.
“We are in contact with the FIA and Formula 1,” he said.
“For a decision to be made, the new regulations for the future power unit, which will apply from 2026, must be approved and announced by the FIA.
“That is not the case yet,” Hoffman added.
However, F1’s governing body outlined the 2026 rules blueprint last December, with Hoffman admitting that Audi is “taking a close look at where we want to position the Audi brand in motorsport and where we see the right challenge for us”.
When asked about the VW Group’s obvious interest in F1, also with the Porsche brand linked with Red Bull, F1 CEO Domenicali is quoted by Bild newspaper: “Wait a little and you will soon know more.”