“Motorsport has always been in Audi’s DNA,” confirmed Audi boss Markus Duesmann before tomorrow’s Belgian Grand Prix (3 p.m., live on ServusTV), which everyone already knew. The German car manufacturer will enter Formula 1 as an engine manufacturer at the beginning of 2026. “We think now is the perfect time for Formula 1 to get new regulations,” said Duesmann. Audi will announce the chassis partner by the end of the year.
The decisive factors for getting started were the cost limit in Formula 1, which will be $135 million per racing team from 2023, and the focus on sustainability. From 2026, the hybrid engines are to be operated with 100 percent sustainable fuel. The combustion engine in the unit should only contribute 50 percent of the power, the rest is electric. “We started electrifying our motorsport program in 2012,” says Head of Technology at Audi Oliver Hoffmann.
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc will backfire tomorrow for illegally swapping engine parts. Before the 14th race of the season, the Dutchman leads the Monegasque by 80 points.
Source: Nachrichten
