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 carry monumental change to the game. Not solely will F1 implement a brand new collection of technical laws for the 2026 season, however the sport can even see enlargement to 11 groups — with the newly-formed Cadillac-Common Motors workforce becoming a member of the grid — in addition to Audi, at the moment the Sauber workforce, taking on as a works operation.
Now there may be extra information on that entrance.
Sauber Holding AG, the long run F1 manufacturing facility workforce 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.
In accordance with the announcement, the QIA’s funding will “present a considerable capital injection and pave the way in which for growing infrastructure and workforce buildout, positioning the workforce for long-term success in Components 1. The funding is in step with QIA’s concentrate on investments with long-term development potential.”
The transfer is the most recent aggressive determination introduced by the long run Audi F1 mission. Through the summer season the workforce introduced that Mattia Binotto, previously the Crew 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, can be becoming a member of the workforce subsequent 12 months as Crew Principal.
Audi introduced their drivers for subsequent season, a pairing of veteran Nico Hülkenberg and younger driver Gabriel Bortoleto.
Now the mission has the backing of the QIA, which in response to Gernot Döllner, the CEO of Audi, will “speed up the workforce’s development” and result in elevated hiring and infrastructure enhancements.
“The funding by QIA displays the belief and confidence the Audi F1 Venture has already garnered, underscoring unwavering dedication of Audi to the initiative,” stated Döllner. “This extra capital will speed up the workforce’s development and is one more milestone on 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.”
Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, the CEO of the QIA, pointed to the “more and more world recognition of Components 1” as a cause for the transfer.
“Audi is a premium companion of alternative 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 Components 1 and our funding will assist the belief of this objective,” stated Al-Sowaidi. “QIA believes that Components 1 is a sport with important untapped funding potential. The growing commercialization {of professional} sports activities as an leisure providing globally, and the more and more world recognition of Components 1, has made for an thrilling alternative for our first main motorsports funding.”
The workforce will compete as Sauber for one closing season in 2025, earlier than the change to Audi.
