Audi accelerates F1 acquisition

Although the eagerly anticipated 2026 Formula 1 season still seems agonisingly far away, Audi has fast-tracked plans in its F1 preparation with confirmation that the brand will take a 100 percent in Sauber.

The news comes amidst other announcements around senior personal appointments within Audi’s Formula 1 operation, where lans are well advanced to meet the 2026 official launch date. Audi’s current head of Technical Development, Oliver Hoffman, is the man now charged with overall responsibility for the Brand’s Formula 1 campaign, overseeing the development of the power unit by Audi Formula Racing GmbH at the Neuburg site, the integration of the Suaber team and the overall launch of Audi’s Formula 1 program.

With Audi’s 100 percent acquisition of the Sauber Group, Hoffman will also become Chairman of the Board of Directors of all Sauber companies. In doing so he will relinquish his position on the Board of Management of AUDI AG, with Audi CEO Gernot Döllner taking charge of the Technical Development division as well as his existing responsibilities.

“Motorsport, particularly Formula 1, is my big passion,” says Hoffman of the move. “I am convinced that by bundling responsibilities and taking over 100 percent of [the] Sauber Group, we will further accelerate our preparations for the launch in 2026.”

The role of Audi F1 Team CEO, effectively the face of the team going forward, will fall to Andreas Seidl. His impressive motorsport career has seen him work across the top tiers of international motorsport for decades, including significant time spent in Formula 1 beginning in 2000 with BMW before later becoming Team Principal of the McLaren Formula 1 Team.

“I am pleased we were able to secure the services of Andreas Seidl as Audi F1 Team CEO. He is exactly the right man for our ambitious plan,” Hoffman said of Seidl’s confirmation in the CEO role.

“Thanks to his broad experience from leadership roles on the manufacturer and Formula 1 team side, he will make a significant contribution to Audi’s Formula 1 project.”

Even with these and other highly experienced and talented personal working tirelessly on the Audi Formula 1 preparations, the competition at this pinnacle of international motorsport will be extraordinarily tough. But Audi has proved time and again that it is more than up to the toughest tests in motorsport, most recently winning the gruelling Dakar Rally on just its third attempt and becoming the first manufacturer to do so with an electrified drive.

“I am looking forward to leading Audi into Formula 1 together with a highly motivated team as CEO of the Audi F1 Team,” says Seidl of the challenge ahead.

“We have a clear roadmap for how we want to become competitive in Hinwil [Sauber’s base in Switzerland] as well as in Neuburg [Audi Sport HQ] we have ambitious goals. Realisation of them is in progress and will be further accelerated through the complete takeover of Sauber by AUDI AG.”