New F1 partners announced

Although one final thrilling race remains to determine the 2025 Formula 1 season, details for Audi’s entry into the premiere racing category in 2026 continue to be revealed with the announcement of two new team partners. Audi has welcomed Visit Qatar onboard as a new principal partner, while AI-powered management platform, Perk, has also signed a multi-year contract with Audi Formula 1 to supplied ongoing logistics support to the team.

Building on the existing relationship between the Audi Formula 1 team and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Visit Qatar through its association with the team will seek to promote the many and varied attractions of a country increasingly renowned for its diverse offering of attractions. With its rich blend of ultra-modern skylines and strong cultural offerings along with with world-class hospitality, Qatar is increasingly seen as a global hub not only for major sporting events, but international tourism. 

The announcement came, fittingly, as this year’s Qatar Formula 1 Grand Pix weekend was getting underway, the home race for the sport’s major sponsor, Qatar Airways, which features one of the fastest circuits on the F1 calendar – the demanding Lusail International Circuit. Commenting on the partnership, Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal of the future Audi F1 Team said:

“The Qatar Grand Prix has grown into a valued destination on the F1 calendar. Welcoming Visit Qatar as a partner and bringing Qatar’s unique blend of culture, warmth, and innovation to F1 fans around the world is a natural next step to highlight what makes this country such a remarkable destination.

“Through unique fan events, cultural showcases, and digital experiences, we are excited to partner with Visit Qatar to foster global cultural connections, built through the platform of Formula 1,” he said.

The multi-year agreement with Perk will see the future Audi Formula 1 team harnessing Perk’s AI-powered platform to support what will be a highly complex operation involving a large number of team members and operations across five continents as they contest 24 rounds of the Formula 1 season.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Perk as our partner,” says Jonathan Wheatley.

“Behind every race is an immense logistical effort, and with Formula 1’s demanding global calendar, that requires precise travel management for hundreds of people, the scale and complexity of operations are immense.”

The sheer scale of the operation is extraordinary, making the Perk collaboration as important a part of the whole as the engineering side for the cars and the drivers’ very performance.

“Every little detail matters; everything and everyone contributes to winning,” says Wheatley.

“Perk’s technology brings intelligence and efficiency to one of the most demanding parts of our operation, empowering our teams to operate with maximum focus, performance and precision.”

These latest partnerships are in addition to those already announced for the future Audi Formula 1 team with Revolut, adidas, bp oils and the aforementioned collaboration with the QIA. The new race livery will be shown to the world for the first time next month (January 2026) ahead of the first official test drives with the new-generation Formula 1 cars in Barcelona at the end of January. The first race of course will be here in Australia in March, when Audi takes to the track for the first race of the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix. 

Learn more about Audi's preparations for its entry into Formula 1 and how you can take part in the action at the official Audi Australia Formula 1 site.