The company, under the slogan “F1 Power made in Germany,” is preparing to enter the highest level of motorsport with a significant amount of perplexity and burstiness. From the year 2026, Audi plans to compete in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with its factory team and a power unit that was developed in Germany, which demonstrates the company’s dedication to motorsport. Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, expressed that “Motorsport is an integral part of our DNA” at Auto Shanghai. He also stated that “We are convinced that our Formula 1 commitment will strengthen Audi’s sporting focus. The racing series is continuously increasing its global reach, especially among young target groups and in our most important sales market: China.” Despite the pandemic, the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit was canceled for the fourth year in a row, and this makes Duesmann even more pleased to provide Chinese Formula 1 enthusiasts with a preview of Audi’s upcoming involvement in the highest level of motorsport.
Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at AUDI AG, also stated that “The Audi Formula 1 project has really taken off in recent months,” and that “In the ongoing concept phase of the power unit, the foundation of our drivetrain for 2026 is being laid today.” Hoffmann emphasized the importance of paying attention to details, such as the manufacturing technologies and materials, as well as the energy management of the hybrid drivetrain, in order to achieve efficiency, which is a key factor for success in Formula 1 and future mobility. He added that these methods will advance both worlds, in terms of future mobility and Formula 1.
The development team has been working diligently to create the Audi power unit, and they have gained valuable insights from testing a single-cylinder engine since the end of 2022. They have also scheduled the first full hybrid drivetrain unit, which includes the combustion engine, electric motor, battery, and electronic control unit, to run on the test bench before the end of this year, and it will serve as the basis for the future vehicle concept. Furthermore, the dynamic development simulator in Neuburg will be upgraded to Formula 1 standards and will aid in the development of the Audi power unit.
The team’s construction at the facility in Neuburg a. d. Donau, which is under the umbrella of the specially founded Audi Formula Racing GmbH, is also in full swing. More than 260 experts are already part of the team, with the development team’s core consisting of experienced Audi Sport and Audi employees who possess diverse expertise in electric motorsport. They are joined by Formula 1 experts who were recruited externally to strengthen the team. The hiring of employees should be completed by the end of the year, and the team will have more than 300 members.
In addition, the Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg will be expanded for the Formula 1 project. A new building with a floor area of around 3,000 square meters will be erected, and from the second half of this year, additional test rigs for power unit development will be installed. A modular design will allow the state-of-the-art test rigs to be put into operation even before the building is fully completed in early 2024. The facility is supplied with district heating from industrial waste heat and green electricity from hydroelectric power plants, making it CO₂-neutral. The FIA has awarded the facility its three-star environmental seal of approval, which is the highest distinction for environmental conservation and sustainability. Audi aims to continue providing CO2-neutral energy for the Formula 1 project in Neuburg and establish a regenerative energy supply at the facility.
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