Audi accelerates Sauber takeover ahead of 2026 F1 entry

Audi has announced a complete takeover of the Sauber F1 team, reaffirming its commitment to Formula One as it gears towards a 2026 entry.

The German automaker had announced in August 2022 that it intended to enter F1 as a works team in 2026 and would be taking over 25% of Sauber in six months’ time. It has now announced that the team’s takeover will be complete. 

Andreas Seidl, the current CEO of Sauber Motorsport, will remain the Audi F1 team’s CEO as well, while Audi’s current head of technical department, Oliver Hoffman, will take up the role of a newly-created position of General Representative. Hoffman is also set to also take up the role of Chairman of the Board of Director of all Sauber companies.

Speaking about the development, Andreas Seidl commented:

“I thank Gernot Döllner and Oliver Hoffmann for their trust and am looking forward to leading Audi into Formula 1 together with a highly motivated team as CEO of the Audi F1 Team. We have a clear roadmap for how we want to become competitive in Hinwil as well as in Neuburg. We have ambitious goals. Realisation of them is in progress and will be further accelerated through the complete takeover of Sauber by AUDI AG.“

Oliver Hoffmann added:

“I would like to thank the entire team at Technical Development for the great performance in recent years, and I am proud of the outstanding products resulting from our intensive work that we will bring to the streets in the coming months. Motorsport, particularly Formula 1, is my big passion. I am convinced that by bundling responsibilities and taking over 100 percent of Sauber Group, we will further accelerate our preparations for the launch in 2026. I am pleased we were able to secure the services of Andreas Seidl as Audi F1 Team CEO. He is exactly the right man for our ambitious plan. Thanks to his broad experience from leadership roles on the manufacturer and Formula 1 team side, he will make a significant contribution to Audi’s Formula 1 project.“

Manfred Döss, Chairman — Supervisory Board, Audi AG, said:

“The entry into Formula 1 is not only the pinnacle of Audi’s very successful history in motorsport, but also as big a sporting challenge as it is a financial commitment. Through the bundling of Oliver Hoffmann’s responsibilities and the complete takeover of the Sauber Group, we are accelerating our preparations for the 2026 season.“

Jörg Schlagbauer, Vice-Chairman — Supervisory Board, also Chairman — General Works Council, Audi AG, said:

“Audi must remain technologically flexible, able to take action, and future-proof. To this end, we need a clear course. ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ must be our aspiration. This has now been made management’s top priority. I am therefore looking forward to cooperating even more intensively with Gernot Döllner. All Audi employees’ thanks go to Oliver Hoffmann for his work. We wish him and the four rings much success in the premier class of motorsport.“

Gernot Döllner, Chairman — Board of Management, Audi AG, stated:

“I thank Oliver Hoffmann for his tireless dedication as Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development. In recent years, Oliver has contributed significantly to the sharpening of the Audi product DNA that we are now bringing to market step by step with the launch of the Audi Q6 e-tron. In particular, the high-volume models based on the PPE and PPC, which are important for us, bear his signature.“