Audi AG and Qatar Funding Authority (QIA) have joined forces to propel the 4 rings’ extremely anticipated entry into Formulation 1 in 2026. As a part of this collaboration, QIA, Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, has signed definitive agreements to amass a major minority stake in Sauber Holding AG, the longer term manufacturing unit group of Audi.
Strategic Partnership for Lengthy-Time period Development
This landmark funding positions QIA as a long-term accomplice in Audi’s Formulation 1 mission, offering a considerable capital injection to bolster infrastructure growth and group enlargement. The collaboration underscores Audi’s dedication to establishing a aggressive presence in Formulation 1 whereas aligning with QIA’s funding philosophy, which is concentrated on ventures with robust long-term development potential.
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Formulation 1’s continued international enlargement, rising fan engagement, and profitable commercialization alternatives make it a pretty platform for strategic investments. With Audi set to enter the championship as a manufacturing unit group in 2026—coinciding with introducing new technical laws—the stage is ready for a transformative chapter within the sport.
Constructing Foundations for Success
Audi’s services in Neuburg, Germany, and Hinwil, Switzerland, are present process vital upgrades to fulfill the rigorous calls for of Formulation 1. These efforts are supported by latest high-profile appointments and selections that sign the model’s ambitions. Key milestones embody:
Driver Lineup: The recruitment of Gabriel Bortoleto, a rising star at 20, who will be a part of Formulation 1 veteran Nico Hülkenberg, 37, showcasing a stability of youth and expertise.
Management Appointments: The announcement of Mattia Binotto as Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and Chief Working Officer (COO), and Jonathan Wheatley as Group Principal, set to imagine roles in mid-2025.
Possession Milestone: Audi’s full acquisition of Sauber earlier this yr marks a major step in direction of integrating the group into its motorsport ecosystem.
Voices from the Partnership
Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairman of the Board of Administrators of Sauber Motorsport AG, praised the partnership:
“The funding by QIA displays the belief and confidence the Audi F1 Venture has already garnered, underscoring Audi’s unwavering dedication to the initiative. This extra capital will speed up the group’s development and is one more milestone in our long-term technique. QIA’s involvement additional energizes the devoted efforts at each the Hinwil and Neuburg services as they work in direction of the entry of Audi in 2026.”
QIA’s CEO, Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, emphasised the alignment between QIA’s funding philosophy and Audi’s motorsport imaginative and prescient:
“Audi is a premium accomplice of selection with a wealthy motorsport legacy. As a long-standing investor within the Volkswagen Group, we imagine in Audi’s imaginative and prescient and path when coming into Formulation 1, and our funding will assist the conclusion of this aim. QIA believes that Formulation 1 is a sport with vital untapped funding potential. The rising commercialization {of professional} sports activities as an leisure providing globally, and the more and more international reputation of Formulation 1, has made for an thrilling alternative for our first main motorsports funding.”
Accelerating Towards 2026
This partnership between Audi and QIA marks a pivotal second within the countdown to 2026, making certain that Audi’s Formulation 1 mission is supplied with the sources and infrastructure required for long-term success. With QIA’s strategic funding, the group is well-positioned to make an impactful debut on the pinnacle of motorsport, representing a fusion of German engineering excellence and international funding prowess.
