Tuesday, December 21, 2021
The decision should be made
Audi is about to enter Formula 1
The rumors of Audi’s involvement in Formula 1 have been around for months, but they are now becoming concrete. The engine regulations, which will apply from the 2026 season, are apparently a lasting stimulus for the German manufacturer. However, in the end everything depends on Volkswagen.
A letter from the Audi management to Formula 1 makes it clear that the German manufacturer’s entry into the premier class of motorsport is apparently a serious and realistic option for the near future. The CEO Markus Duesmann recently spoke of “intensive discussions”, combined with the following sentence: “If Formula 1 becomes more sustainable, it could become interesting for Audi.” Now a letter from the Audi management team, which is addressed to the interviewees of the racing series, is causing a stir. The “Motorsport-Magazin” quotes from the letter that the introduction of the new engine regulations for the 2026 season would be a milestone for entry into Formula 1.
According to reports, the letter was distributed before the FIA, the international motor sport federation, voted on these new regulations, which contain the following points: A completely sustainable fuel is to be used from 2026, and the engines will be a V6 turbo with 1.6 liter displacement – changes. The expensive, high-maintenance MGU-H unit, which is hardly relevant for the transfer to series vehicles, is no longer necessary; it generates energy from the exhaust gases. There is also a cost cap for engine development.
With these changes, Formula 1 wants to attract new manufacturers, while the current manufacturers do not have to design completely new drives. Mercedes (for their own works team, McLaren, Aston Martin, Williams), Ferrari (for their own team, Alfa Romeo, Haas) and Renault (for the company’s own Alpine team) are currently active as engine suppliers in Formula 1. After Honda left after the season just ended, Red Bull founded its own department in order to further develop the Honda units independently in the coming years, also for the sister team Alpha Tauri.
Porsche should also be interested
In addition to fair and as balanced competition as possible, the new regulations are also geared towards sustainability, and are now an important component for potential newcomers to Formula 1. Especially when it comes to car manufacturers who have to understand and justify such a commitment as part of their corporate strategy. For Audi CEO Duesmann – from 2007 to 2010 Head of Development at the BMW Formula 1 team – and Chief Technology Officer Oliver Hoffmann, this is possible with the new framework, according to the letter.
However, Audi does not decide independently about a possible Formula 1 entry; Volkswagen, as the parent company, would also have to agree to this. There, the future motorsport orientation is lately loud in view of the public disputes over VW boss Herbert Diess “Motorsport Magazine” been treated subordinately. It would be their responsibility to decide whether Volkswagen will be active in Formula 1 from 2026 and whether that will be done through the Audi brand.
Because Porsche is also said to be interested. In the 1950s and 1960s, the manufacturer from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen competed in Formula 1 with a works team; in the 1980s, McLaren supplied the engines for two drivers ‘and two constructors’ titles, but said goodbye in the 1991 season after a disappointing collaboration with the Team footwork from the premier class.
It is also still unclear to what extent the VW group would join. Because joining as a works team, as Mercedes did for the 2010 season – with outstanding success in the form of seven drivers ‘titles and eight constructors’ championships – would be the most cost-intensive option. A commitment as an engine manufacturer is likely to be more likely. That would be conceivable at Red Bull, for example, if the switch to independent maintenance, care and development of the drive units does not go as well as planned. The “Motorsport-Magazin” also brings McLaren and Williams into play.