Formula One constructor
German car manufacturerAudi is contracted to compete inFormula One as aconstructor andpower unit manufacturer from2026 onwards.Audi Motorsport AG competing asAudi Revolut F1 Team was formed through the acquisition ofSauber Motorsport , with engines developed byAudi Formula Racing GmbH .
Prior toWorld War II , Audi's predecessorAuto Union contestedGrand Prix motor racing from1935 to1939 . Audi announced their intention to acquire Sauber—who debuted in1993 —and its Swiss facilities in 2022, ahead ofnew power unit and chassis regulations in 2026 . The project expanded to apower unit facility inBavaria and a technology centre in the "Motorsport Valley " ofOxfordshire , England.
[ edit ] Auto Union , the predecessor ofAudi , competed inGrand Prix motor racing from1935 to1939 , winning theEuropean Drivers' Championship in1936 withBernd Rosemeyer .Audias a Formula One engine manufacturer Officialname(s) Audi Formula Racing GmbH Base Neuburg , Bavaria, GermanyFormula One World Championship careerFirst entry 2026 (contracted)Chassis Audi
Whilst the modernAudi company has never enteredGrand Prix motor racing , its predecessor companyAuto Union hadcompeted in Grand Prix racing from1935 to1939 , prior toWorld War II and the inception of theFormula One World Championship in1950 .[ 1]
Auto Union was founded in 1932, during theGreat Depression , as a merger of four struggling automotive firms: Audi,DKW ,Horch , andWanderer .[ 2] Adolf Hitler announced a state-sponsored motor racing programme withMercedes-Benz .[ 3] Ferdinand Porsche , Hitler agreed that competition between two German firms would improve their chances of victory andnational glory ; an annual 500,000 ℛℳ (£ 40,000; £3,590,000 in 2023) prize for the most successful car between Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz was announced, eventually rising to 3,125,000 ℛℳ (£250,000; £22,420,000 in 2023) and promptinga heated rivalry .[ 4]
Across five seasons in theAIACR European Championship , Auto Union won sevenGrandes Épreuves non-championship Grands Prix.[ 5] Bernd Rosemeyer claimed European Drivers' Championship in1936 , driving theType C , with victories at theGerman ,Swiss , andItalian Grands Prix.[ 3] Hermann Paul Müller —driving theType D —unofficially won the final edition in1939 , with the title not awarded due to the onset ofWorld War II in Europe following theinvasion of Poland .[ 6] Volkswagen in 1964, becoming the modern-day Audi company.[ 7]
[ edit ] Sauber were previously partnered withMercedes-Benz ,Ford ,Ferrari (includingPetronas rebadging era),BMW , andAlfa Romeo ; it achieved its only victory at the2008 Canadian Grand Prix with BMW andRobert Kubica .The antecedent constructor to Audi based inHinwil —Sauber —made its Formula One debut in1993 , having contestedsportscar racing since 1970.[ 8] Mercedes-Benz until1994 ,Ford until1996 , andFerrari (rebadged asPetronas ) until2005 , before becoming thefactory team forBMW from2006 to2009 .[ 9] World Constructors' Championship with second and third in2007 and2008 , respectively, the former aftera disqualification forMcLaren and the latter including its sole victory at theCanadian Grand Prix withRobert Kubica .[ 10] 2010 withFerrari engines, repurchased byPeter Sauber following theGreat Recession anda failed shell company acquisition .[ 11] Alfa Romeo in2018 led to a full rebrand from2019 to2023 ,[ 12] Stake andKick .[ 13]
Constructor history [ edit ] [ edit ] In August 2022, Audi announced that it would enter Formula One as apower unit manufacturer in2026 —the planned year for a regulation overhaul.[ 14] [ 15] Sauber , acquiring a stake in the company for a full rebrand and power unit deal.[ 16] [ 17] Qatar Investment Authority purchased a minority stake in the team.[ 18]
Veteranmidfield driverNico Hülkenberg and rookieGabriel Bortoleto joined Sauber on separate multi-year contracts from2025 onwards, thus becoming Audi's driver lineup upon its debut.[ 19] [ 20] [ 21] Neel Jani was signed as asimulator driver to assist with car development.[ 22] [ 23] Sauber Motorsport Technology Centre inBicester Motion , Oxfordshire,[ 24] [ 25] Motorsport Valley " region of England. The technology centre aims to complement the primary headquarters inHinwil , Switzerland, where the chassis is constructed.[ 25]
Audi signed a multi-year deal with Britishfinancial technology companyRevolut to become the title sponsor of the team.[ 26] [ 27]
Audi are set to debut at the season-openingAustralian Grand Prix in2026 with theR26 , designed fornew chassis and power unit regulations .[ 28]
Constructor personnel [ edit ] Jonathan Wheatley is the inaugural team principal of Audi, withMattia Binotto serving as the project head[ 29] James Key as the technical director.[ 30]
Driver development programme [ edit ] On 23 January 2026, Audi launched theirdriver development programme , being led by former Formula One driverAllan McNish .[ 31]
Power unit programme [ edit ] The Audipower unit programme will be operated by the subsidiary Audi Formula Racing GmbH,[ 32] Neuburg an der Donau , Bavaria, Germany.[ 33]
Racing licence and facilities [ edit ] Audi competes with aGerman racing licence [ 34]
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2026 season Former Proposed Although World Championship races held in 1952 and 1953 were run to Formula Two regulations, constructors who only participated during this period are included herein to maintain Championship continuity.Indianapolis 500 races between 1950 and 1960 are not listed.
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