Audi are preparing for their Formula One debut in March and the German car maker believes it has what it takes to fight for race wins and titles in the near future. "Whenever Audi entered a racing series Audi was successful," Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said when their F1 concept car was unveiled in November.
Audi are preparing for their Formula One debut in March and the German car maker believes it has what it takes to fight for race wins and titles in the near future.
"Whenever Audi entered a racing series Audi was successful," Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said when their F1 concept car was unveiled in November.
Audi are entering the sport as a works team, having bought up the Swiss Sauber outfit which has been in F1 for decades.
Former Audi boss Markus Duesmann was one of the masterminds of the project, after having in the past been development chief at BMW who had a four-year partnership with Sauber which ended in 2009 due to lack of success and BWM's withdrawal.
F1 boss Stefano Domenicali was engaged in Audi's first plans around a decade ago but the company then decided against an F1 entry.
But now the time has come, and Döllner said that one key was the sweeping rule changes from 2026 onwards, such as new hybrid engines and a cost cap which makes financial planning easier.
"The entry into Formula One was never better in the past 30 years with this rule change," Döllner said.
Audi got extra capital for the F1 programme from the Qatar Investment Authority as a minority stake holder. Unlike the new other team, Cadillac, who get their engine from Ferrari, Audi are doing everything themselves, including the power unit.
Audi's Formula One project manager Mattia Binotto, a former Ferrari team principal, is upbeat that they will deliver.
"For Audi it is not about participating but winning," Binotti has said.
This echoed Döllner, who has given out the road map: "2026 and 2027 are challenging years. We want to be competitive from 2028 and drive for titles from 2030 onwards."
The livery will formally be presented on January 20, and first pre-season tests for drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gebriel Bortoleto as well as team principal Jonathan Wheatley start six days later in Barcelona.
The season starts on March 8 in Australia.
Wheatley has said he is not stressed and that the constant challenges are met head-on, with Döllner saying that it this respect "corporate Audi can learn a lot from Formula One."
Hülkenberg, who last season got his maiden podium finish at long last at the British Grand Prix, is cautiously optimistic.
"It's difficult to predict the future with such a new project. The fact that there's a big brand behind it doesn't mean that everything will work out, but the conditions are in place to be competitive as quickly as possible," he said.
Category: General Sports
