The 2024 Components 1 season is winding down, however plans are already in movement for not simply the 2025 season, however the 2026 marketing campaign.
That season will convey monumental change to the game. Not solely will F1 implement a brand new sequence of technical rules for the 2026 season, however the sport may even see enlargement to 11 groups — with the newly-formed Cadillac-Basic Motors crew becoming a member of the grid — in addition to Audi, at present the Sauber crew, taking up as a works operation.
Now there’s extra information on that entrance.
Sauber Holding AG, the longer term F1 manufacturing facility crew of Audi, introduced on Friday that the Qatar Funding Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, has agreed to “purchase a big minority stake” within the Sauber Holding AG.
Based on the announcement, the QIA’s funding will “present a considerable capital injection and pave the way in which for growing infrastructure and crew buildout, positioning the crew for long-term success in Components 1. The funding is per QIA’s deal with investments with long-term progress potential.”
The transfer is the most recent aggressive determination introduced by the longer term Audi F1 undertaking. Through the summer time the crew introduced that Mattia Binotto, previously the Workforce Principal at Ferrari, was becoming a member of as each the Chief Expertise Officer and the Chief Working Officer of Audi F1. It was additionally introduced that Jonathan Wheatley, the longtime Sporting Director at Purple Bull, could be becoming a member of the crew subsequent 12 months as Workforce Principal.
Audi introduced their drivers for subsequent season, a pairing of veteran Nico Hülkenberg and younger driver Gabriel Bortoleto.
Now the undertaking has the backing of the QIA, which in keeping with Gernot Döllner, the CEO of Audi, will “speed up the crew’s progress” and result in elevated hiring and infrastructure enhancements.
“The funding by QIA displays the belief and confidence the Audi F1 Undertaking has already garnered, underscoring unwavering dedication of Audi to the initiative,” mentioned Döllner. “This extra capital will speed up the crew’s progress and is one more milestone on our long-term technique. QIA’s involvement additional energizes the devoted efforts at each the Hinwil and Neuburg amenities as they work in the direction of the entry of Audi in 2026.”
Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, the CEO of the QIA, pointed to the “more and more international reputation of Components 1” as a motive for the transfer.
“Audi is a premium companion of selection with a wealthy motorsport legacy. As a long-standing investor within the Volkswagen Group, we consider in Audi’s imaginative and prescient and path when coming into Components 1 and our funding will assist the belief of this aim,” mentioned Al-Sowaidi. “QIA believes that Components 1 is a sport with vital untapped funding potential. The growing commercialization {of professional} sports activities as an leisure providing globally, and the more and more international reputation of Components 1, has made for an thrilling alternative for our first main motorsports funding.”
The crew will compete as Sauber for one last season in 2025, earlier than the change to Audi.
