It’s Official: Audi is Coming to Formula 1
Right now, fans of the Four Rings still have more questions than answers — but Audi is headed to Formula 1.
Late last year, AudiWorld posted that Ingolstadt was poised to announce a Formula 1 program. Well, in the months since, things have been relatively quiet on the F1 front. But today, Volkswagen Chief Executive Herbert Diess made it official, telling Reuters that both Porsche and Audi are headed to the pinnacle of motorsport. Here’s some relevant bits from our friends at the international news agency:
Discussions by the board of directors about the two brands’ plans had created some divisions, said Diess at an event in Wolfsburg, where the German carmaker is headquartered.
Diess said on Monday that Porsche’s preparations for entering Formula One were a little more concrete than Audi’s.
Audi is ready to offer around 500 million euros ($556.3 million) for British luxury sports carmaker McLaren as a means to enter, a source told Reuters in March, while Porsche intends to establish a long-term partnership with racing team Red Bull starting in several years’ time.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall at the meeting where the “divisions” between the two brands were aired! That had to be one hell of a discussion, because the decision means that not only will Audi and Porsche be going up against the rest of the grid — they’ll be competing against each other in a multi-million dollar game of family feud. Why on earth that idea wasn’t nipped in the bud is anyone’s guess, but it does speak to fantastic visibility that running in the series provides.
At this point, we still have more questions than answers about what each of the Volkswagen Group’s teams will look like. And while there are sure to be more details trickling out in the coming months, forthcoming engine regulations mean we won’t see an Audi or Porsche-branded car on the grid until the 2026 season. Until then, fans will have to make due with watching what’s already been one of the most exciting seasons in ages.
Because after years of domination, Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes team have fallen off the pace. The seven-time world champion has struggled mightily this year, and is currently seventh in the points standings. In a shocking development, his teammate George Russel has be consistently upstaging the champion, and currently sits forth in the standings, behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, and McLaren’s Lando Norris. The next race is set for this Sunday in Miami — on a new street course that’s sure to create drama. Stay tuned for more news on Audi’s entry into Formula 1!
Photos: Audi
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