The fact that Audi has decided to embark on the adventure of joining Formula 1 is no longer a novelty, as is the fact that the Ingolstadt-based car manufacturer will acquire the Sabuer team, the current Alfa Romeo, in order to be able to enter F1.
However, it will not be a full purchase, at least not immediately. Rumors coming from England inform that Audi will gradually move in this sense. The first shareholding package will thus be acquired in 2023, to eventually buy 75% of the Hinwil team for a total of 440 million euros.
British journalist Joe Saward commented the recent rumors and wrote on his blog: “Audi AG has reached an agreement to acquire the Sauber team. We already know that Porsche is leaping enthusiastically into bed with Red Bull and now its sister brand Audi wants to go racing as well.”
The British Formula One journalist then focused on the reasons why the new regulations, expected for 2026, have attracted big car companies such as Audi and Porsche:
“the new F1 rules in 2026 are exactly what the industry wants as it heads towards sustainability, with hyper-efficient engines and synthetic fuels. There may be others that want to jump on the bandwagon as well.” – he added.
As for Audi, Jow Saward clarified some points regarding the acquisition of the Sauber team by the German giant:
“The whisper is that the deal is worth around $450 million and will see Audi acquiring 75 percent of the shares in the team, valuing it at $600 million. The sale is conditional on the technical rules of F1 for 2026 being confirmed by the FIA but will be a phased deal over three years with Audi taking control of a first 25 percent of the shares in 2023, another 25 percent in 2024 and a third 25 percent in 2025.” – he wrote on his blog.
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The Englishman then clarified that, despite the purchase by Audi, Sauber will continue to call itself Alfa Romeo and use Ferrari engines until the end of 2025: “The team will go on using Ferrari engines and being called Alfa Romeo until the end of the current formula at the end of 2025. After that it will transform into an Audi operation, with engines being built by Audi Sport GmbH in Germany. It cannot happen any quicker than that because you cannot have an Audi chassis powered by a Ferrari engine.” – he cincluded.
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