Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Audi to enter Formula One in 2026 as power unit manufacturer

Audi CEO Markus Duesmann, right, and Audi's Chief Development Officer Oliver Hoffman unveil the new Audi F1 car during a media conference in Spa, Belgium, on Aug. 26, 2022. (Olivier Matthys / AP) Audi CEO Markus Duesmann, right, and Audi's Chief Development Officer Oliver Hoffman unveil the new Audi F1 car during a media conference in Spa, Belgium, on Aug. 26, 2022. (Olivier Matthys / AP)
Share
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium -

German manufacturer Audi will enter Formula One in 2026 in line with new engine regulations, chairman Markus Duesmann said on Friday.

Audi will manufacture its own power unit in an era when there will be a greater emphasis on sustainable fuels and an increased electrical component in engines.

From 2026, the electric power output for the power units, consisting of an electric motor, battery, control electronics, and a combustion engine, will increase. The electric motor will then be nearly as powerful as the combustion engine and the highly efficient 1.6-litre turbo engines will run on advanced sustainable fuel -- which Audi says was a prerequisite for entry into the series.

"I want to officially announce that Audi has officially registered as PU (power unit) Formula One manufacturer. So in 2026 we will start racing in F1," Audi chief executive Markus Duesmann said at the Belgian Grand Prix.

"Racing, motorsport is in the DNA of Audi. If you think of Le Mans, and Dakar, we have always been very successful. It's perfect timing with the rule changes for us to enter F1."

It is not yet clear if Audi, which has been linked to a set up with Sauber, will run its own team or only supply engines.

Duesmann said entering in 2026 was wiser than starting earlier in F1.

"As we do a complete new power train, the combustion engine and the power side, that is not too long for us," He said. "In less than four years from now we will be on the grid."

The project will be based at Audi Sport's facility in Neuburg, Germany, near Ingolstadt.

Audi is the second-most successful manufacturer in the 24 Hours Le Mans endurance race with 13 wins, and began to work on electrifying the car in that series as early as 2012.

"I am delighted to welcome Audi to Formula 1, an iconic automotive brand, pioneer and technological innovator," F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said. "It is also a big recognition that our move to sustainably fueled hybrid engines in 2026 is a future solution for the automotive sector."

FIA President Mohamed Ben Sulayem expects Audi to make a long-term commitment to F1 when the new cycle begins, which Duesmann agreed with.

"We are here very long term," Duesmann said. "Within three years we expect to be competitive."

Audi is widely expected to be joined on the grid in 2026 by Porsche in a partnership with Red Bull.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

A Nova Scotian YouTuber has launched a mini-truck bookmobile.

Infectious disease physician Dr. Isaac Bogoch says whooping cough is most risky for unvaccinated infants, children and older people.

Local Spotlight

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

Stay Connected