Audi Set to Enter Formula 1 in 2026

Hallelujah! If our article on the debut of Audi's much-anticipated E-Tron S Sportback made you teem with verve, here is exciting news from the Ingolstadt-based company that is sure to make you watch Formula 1 with keener interest, concentration, and speculation. Audi will be racing in Formula 1!

Project Overview

Audi's advent into the most advanced and formidable motorsport fiesta will take place in 2026 under the banner of FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The company is readying a one-off power unit that will shoulder the responsibility to enact the powerhouse for the car in four of the major sprints in the Middle East and other regions. The project is being developed at Audi's Neuburg facility, located in close proximity to the brand's birthplace.

Announcement Details

While this is something to revel in for Audi and motorsport fans alike, the news wasn’t unveiled at a grand event but rather at a press conference during the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. To announce the brand’s participation in the prestigious event, questions were answered by:

• Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG
• Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development
• Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali
• Mohammed ben Sulayem, President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA)

Commitment to Sustainability

Markus Duesmann asserts, “Formula 1 is both a global stage for our brand and a highly challenging development laboratory. The combination of high performance and competition is always a driver of innovation and technology transfer in our industry. With the new rules, now is the right time for us to get involved. After all, Formula 1 and Audi both pursue clear sustainability goals.”

Not just the senates of the nations, but even Formula 1 regulating bodies have implemented strict measures as they aim to make the event 100% carbon-free by 2030. Hence, it may present challenges for Audi to manufacture a racecar that complies with such standards. Audi will need to balance current development with emission regulations and structural changes of the racing machine to succeed in this high-speed world, emphasizing sustainability, creativity, and optimum performance.

Future Prospects

Carsten Bender, Managing Director of Audi Middle East, stated: “Audi has a rich motorsport history and in recent years has participated in some of the biggest motorsport events in the region, including the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia and the Hankook 24H race in Dubai. Now, with our entry into Formula 1 in 2026, we have an opportunity to reach even more motorsport enthusiasts in the region with races taking place in Abu Dhabi, Manama, Doha, and Jeddah. We are excited to present fans of the brand with the four rings an opportunity to witness the very best from Audi Sport and are looking forward to this exhilarating new phase for our brand.”

Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board for Technical Development, says: “In view of the major technological leaps that the series is making towards sustainability in 2026, we can speak of a new Formula 1. Formula 1 is transforming, and Audi wants to actively support this journey. A close link between our Formula 1 project and Audi AG’s Technical Development department will enable synergies.”

Conclusion

In order to comply with regulations, it’s the end of the road for Audi's erstwhile LMDh project. However, the brand will go full throttle in enhancing the RS-Q e-tron for the Dakar Rally. It is deepening its engagement in motorsport events to achieve paramount success in the desert rally next year. Prior to this announcement, it set numerous records in various events like the World Rally Championship, World Sportscar Championship, US motorsport, DTM, Le Mans, and the most recent, Formula E by bringing home the winning trophy.

The FIA Formula 1 race attracts entries from various manufacturers and nations, turning the competition into a spectacle that captivates audiences. Audi's entry in 2026 signals that this revered event will be unlike anything imagined in the past.