Formula One will have immense changes in four years’ time, with new cars, new power units and, Stefano Domenicali notwithstanding, perhaps a new team or two? Domenicali, who heads F1, is sounding off on the possibility of Andretti Global joining his little pickle patch. And he doesn’t like it.
With new power units coming in 2026, that pathway opens itself to new power unit manufacturers, and August 26, Audi AG stepped in to announce that Audi Sport will engage in F1 with a new power unit designed and made in Germany. The origination of the MGU was a dig at Mercedes-Benz, whose power units are designed and constructed in the U.K.
Audi, of course was the first manufacturer to produce a hybrid sports car for racing and went on to rule the endurance racing arena for many years, particularly at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As such, “Motorsport is an integral part of Audi’s DNA,” said Markus Desman, chairman of the board of management of AUDI AG.
“Formula 1 is both a global stage for our brand and a highly challenging development laboratory. The combination of high performance and competition is always a driver of innovation and technology transfer in our industry. With the new rules, now is the right time for us to get involved. After all,” he noted, “Formula 1 and Audi both pursue clear sustainability goals.”
The fact that F1 is working towards more sustainability with regard to its hybrid power units and the fueling of them, is one of the key points Audi made when making their announcement, prior to this past weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps. The new technical rules that begin with the 2026 season focus on greater electrification and advanced sustainable fuel.
Formula 1 is placing a cap on costs for power unit manufacturers in 2023, adding to its existing cap costs for teams. F1 has set for itself the ambitious goal of being a carbon-neutral racing series by 2030. it will need the cooperation of every one of its partners to achieve this goal.
Sustainability is one of the major reasons Audi wanted to participate. Another is the changes F1 is bringing to its power units, which consist of an electric motor, battery, control electronics together with an internal combustion engine (ICE). The power unit’s electric element will increase compared to today’s F1 drive systems, becoming nearly as powerful as the combustion engine with which it works. The highly efficient 1.6-liter turbo ICE currently has an output of about 544 horsepower, running on an advanced sustainable fuel – which is also a prerequisite for Audi AG’s entry into the series.
The power unit produced by Audi will be constructed at its state-of-the-art Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg an her Donau, which isn’t far from Audi AG’s company HQ at Ingolstadt. The Neuburg facility already has test benches for testing of both F1 engine and electric motors/batteries. Everything essential, from personnel, buildings and technical infrastructure are expected to be in place by the end of the current year.
“We will build on the valuable expertise of our motorsports employees and continue to invest in our motorsports center, recruiting highly specialized professionals,” said Julius Seebach, currently Audi Sport managing director. Seebach will soon leave his post and take on new work in technical development. Succeeding him is Rolf Michl, who has been chief operating officer for racing at Audi Sport since this past February. Responsible for devising and implementing the Audi Sport TT Cup in 2014, Michl has worked a variety of marketing positions and will, together with Dr. Sebastian Grams, form the management board of Audi Sport GmbH.
Audi intends to announce the team with which they’ll affiliate starting in 2026 by the end of the 2022 calendar year.
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