Audi takes a major step towards joining F1.
Audi has generated buzz across the motorsport world by announcing its intentions to join forces with Sauber and enter the elite group of Formula 1 teams in 2026. However, a new announcement shows that Audi is taking yet another big leap towards that goal, with two years remaining until it is set to be a part of F1 in 2026. With the supervisory boards of Volkswagen AG and Audi AG voting to take over 100% of the Sauber Group, the brand with the four rings has accelerated its plans, and strengthened its commitment to the sport.
The Board of Management will appoint Oliver Hoffmann to be responsible for Audi’s Formula 1 program as a General Representative, stepping down from his current role as a member of Audi’s Board of Management, and Andreas Seidl will be CEO of the Audi Formula 1 Team, with the responsibility of implementing the Audi F1 project and managing the Audi F1 team. In Hoffmann’s stead, CEO Gernot Döllner will take over the Technical Development department on top of his existing role.
Hoffmann has existing experience in the racing world, with a role as the head of Audi Sport, with customer racing experience, DTM, and Formula E. One of the most recent feathers in Audi’s racing cap is the Dakar Rally win, achieved with the electrified Audi RS Q e-tron. Meanwhile, Andreas Seidl joins as CEO with experience as Director of Race Operations for BMW’s F1 program, and as a Team Principal who saw three overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He also served as Team Principal of McLaren’s F1 Team from 2019-2022, and became CEO of Sauber Group in 2023. With plans to take over Sauber Group, Audi’s F1 ambitions are strengthened and accelerated in a big way, and the countdown to its F1 debut in 2026 is more exciting than ever before.