New motorsport partnership

Audi has announced another major development in the brand’s preparations for its 2026 Formula 1 debut with the agreement by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to acquire ‘significant minority’ stake in Sauber, which will ultimately become Audi’s factory team in 2026.

The major investment of funds by the Qatar sovereign wealth fund will enable increased capacity for development and team buildup, not only in the brand’s hugely anticipated debut in Formula 1 but also for its long-term success at the highest level.

“The investment by QIA reflects the trust and confidence the Audi F1 Project has already garnered,” said Audi CEO Gernot Döllner on signing the initial agreement.

“This additional capital will accelerate the team’s growth and is yet another milestone on our long-term strategy.”

The investment by the QIA is consistent with its focus on investments with long-term growth potential and represents its first major foray into motorsport.

“Audi is a premium partner of choice with a rich motorsport legacy. As a long-standing investor in the Volkswagen Group, we believe in Audi’s vision and direction when entering Formula 1 and our investment will support the realisation of this goal,” said Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA.

“QIA believes that Formula 1 is a sport with significant untapped investment potential. The increasing commercialisation of professional sports as an entertainment offering globally, and the increasingly global popularity of Formula 1, has made for an exciting opportunity for our first major motorsports investment.”

Preparations are already well advanced at both Audi Sport’s sprawling Neuburg facility and Sauber’s Hinwil facility in Switzerland, with work continuing at a frenetic pace on the technical side of the brand’s entry, which will coincide with major technical rule changes to Formula 1 which come into effect in 2026.

The signing of 20-year-old Gabriel Bortoleto, in November completed the driver lineup for 2026, with the Brazilian driver joining veteran German Nico Hülkenberg who was announced back in April. 

Excitement is building as the 2026 deadline approaches and what will be one of the most anticipated and major changes in the modern era of Formula 1 with the new technical rules and Audi’s debut in the sport. This new partnership with and investment from the QIA adds significantly to Audi’s momentum as it looks to repeat numerous motorsport successes over its long and illustrious history. Audi has quite rightly earned a reputation as a fierce motorsport competitor from its very earliest days. From endurance racing to rally, Le Mans domination to Formula E and most recently becoming the first to win the Dakar rally with hybrid-electric drive, Audi has demonstrated a single-minded determination to be the best. And it is this competitive drive, born out by the brand’s motorsport legacy that makes its pending Formula 1 debut so compelling.