Motorsport.com’s sister site, Motorsport-Total.com, has learned that the manufacturer has reached a significant milestone in its acquisition of Sauber, with Audi board member Oliver Hoffmann assuming a leadership position as a Sauber director, superseding CEO and former McLaren F1 team principal Andreas Seidl.
The intention for Audi to venture into Formula 1 with a works team by 2026 was initially unveiled at the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix during a presentation led by Markus Duesmann and Hoffmann.
However, Duesmann’s departure as Audi CEO late last year and the appointment of Gernot Dollner, who is reportedly more cautious about an F1 venture, cast some doubt over the project’s future.
Hoffmann, recognized as the firm’s chief development officer and a strong advocate for F1 involvement, had faced speculation of being sidelined due to attributed delays in road car models and sluggish sales figures. This fueled rumors that Audi might reconsider or even abandon the F1 initiative altogether.
Nevertheless, recent developments suggest otherwise. Since acquiring a 25% stake in Sauber in early 2023, Audi is now poised to finalize its takeover of the team from owner Finn Rausing. Initially rumored to secure a 75% stake, reports from Bild and Bloomberg indicate that Audi will ultimately acquire 100% ownership.
Ahead of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Seidl reportedly addressed the team in Jeddah, confirming to employees that Audi’s acquisition of Sauber had progressed to its final stages.
When Audi initially declared Sauber as a “strategic partner for Formula 1 entry” in October 2022, the timeline outlined plans for the expansion of the Neuburg facility, and the commencement of test drives with the power unit developed for the 2026 regulations in 2025.
Responding to speculation in early 2024 regarding Audi’s commitment to F1, Sauber’s Alessandro Alunni Bravi affirmed, “The project is proceeding according to the timeline and the agreed governance between shareholders.” He emphasized the collaborative effort between Seidl and Audi in advancing the team towards 2026.
Bravi added, “Now there is some media speculation. It is normal that it is interesting to understand the status of the Audi project.
But for us, the status is a good one. We are working hard at every level, together with Audi, both in Hinwil and in Neuberg. There is no change, and as we are approaching the target of 2026 more and more, we need to work even harder.”