Audi has formally registered as a Energy Unit producer and can begin racing in System 1 in 2026, the German producer is stepped in motorsport historical past with this venture a continuation for his or her profitable motorsport initiatives.
Audi didn’t point out which crew they’d be powering, Duesmann confirmed “Audi received’t enter as its personal crew” and can search a associate. Latest experiences counsel {that a} take care of Sauber is probably going, however but to be confirmed.
Whereas a brand new crew comparable to Andretti World or one of many a number of others hovering with bids, or beneath the radar, could be a high quality match for Audi’s foray. However these particulars will likely be revealed at a later stage.
Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Administration of Audi AG, and Oliver Hoffmann, Board Member for Technical Improvement, are in Spa-Francorchamps, the place the Belgian Grand Prix is happening this weekend.
The pair shared the press convention on Friday with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in attendance.
Duesmann defined Audi’s choice to enter F1: “The modifications made to the laws had been sufficiently big to be aggressive sooner or later. F1 is each a worldwide stage for our model and a extremely difficult improvement laboratory.
“The mixture of excessive efficiency and competitors is at all times a driver of innovation and know-how switch in our business. With the brand new guidelines, now’s the correct time for us to get entangled.”
System 1 is reworking, and Audi desires to actively assist this journey
As for a chassis associate, Duesmann revealed that they “have spoken to a number of chassis companions, extra info will likely be launched sooner or later.” However he did say that Audi’s inner timeline for fulfillment in F1 is three years to be on the sharp finish and success.
Hoffmann supplied extra perception: “In view of the foremost technological leaps that the sequence is making in the direction of sustainability in 2026, we will communicate of a brand new System 1. A detailed hyperlink between our System 1 venture and AUDI AG’s Technical Improvement division will allow synergies.”
Former Audi worker, now F1 chief, Domenicali commented: “I’m delighted to welcome Audi to System 1, an iconic automotive model, pioneer and technological innovator.
“It is a main second for our sport that highlights the massive energy we’ve got as a worldwide platform that continues to develop. Additionally it is a giant recognition that our transfer to sustainably fuelled hybrid engines in 2026 is a future resolution for the automotive sector.
“We’re all wanting ahead to seeing the Audi emblem on the grid and will likely be listening to additional particulars from them on their plans in the end.”
New F1 guidelines, introduced final week, the ultimate conditions for the Audi entry had been the brand new Energy Unit laws from 2026, which had been accepted simply over every week in the past, clearly ticking the bins for Volkswagen to provide the nod for the venture which isn’t anticipated to make a revenue.
Therefore a advertising train from a bean counter-perspective which is able to solely achieve success if profitable.
Audi’s energy unit will likely be inbuilt Neuburg an der Donau close to the carmaker’s headquarters at Ingolstadt, with a separate Audi Sport subsidiary being shaped for the venture which will likely be overseen by Adam Baker, a motorsport veteran and former FIA worker, will likely be chief govt of the F1 venture.
It’s official – @audisport will begin racing in F1 in 2026 💪#F1 pic.twitter.com/SxjZ2nLUVc
— System 1 (@F1) August 26, 2022
Audi press launch confirming 2026 F1 foray:
The important thing elements to Audi’s F1 entry:
- Improvement of an influence unit for the premier class of motorsport from the 2026 season
- Hybrid energy unit will likely be developed on the Audi Sport facility in Neuburg an der Donau beneath Adam Baker’s management
- New guidelines specializing in sustainability and price effectivity are necessary elements for getting concerned
- Change at Audi Sport: after profitable restructure, Julius Seebach passes the baton to Rolf Michl
Audi enters the premier class of motorsport. From 2026, the premium model will compete within the FIA System 1 World Championship with a specifically developed energy unit.
The venture will likely be primarily based at Audi Sport’s facility in Neuburg close to Ingolstadt. That is the primary time in additional than a decade {that a} System 1 energy prepare will likely be inbuilt Germany.
Audi introduced its entry at a press convention on the System 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. On the occasion, Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Administration of AUDI AG, and Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Administration for Technical Improvement, answered questions within the firm of System 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali and Mohammed ben Sulayem, President of the Worldwide Vehicle Federation (FIA).
“Motorsport is an integral a part of Audi’s DNA,” says Markus Duesmann. “System 1 is each a worldwide stage for our model and a extremely difficult improvement laboratory. The mixture of excessive efficiency and competitors is at all times a driver of innovation and know-how switch in our business. With the brand new guidelines, now’s the correct time for us to get entangled. In any case, System 1 and Audi each pursue clear sustainability targets.”
The important thing to getting concerned is the world’s hottest racing sequence is the clear plan to turn out to be extra sustainable and cost-efficient.
The brand new technical guidelines, which is able to apply from 2026, deal with better electrification and superior sustainable gasoline. Along with the present cap on prices for groups, a price cap for energy unit producers will likely be launched in 2023. As well as, System 1 has set itself the bold objective of being a carbon-neutral racing sequence by 2030.
Actively Shaping System 1’s Transformation
Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board for Technical Improvement, says: “In view of the foremost technological leaps that the sequence is making in the direction of sustainability in 2026, we will communicate of a brand new System 1.
System 1 is reworking, and Audi desires to actively assist this journey. A detailed hyperlink between our System 1 venture and AUDI AG’s Technical Improvement division will allow synergies.”
From 2026, the electrical energy output for the facility items, consisting of an electrical motor, battery, management electronics, and a combustion engine, will enhance sharply in comparison with right this moment’s System 1 drive programs.
The electrical motor will then be almost as highly effective because the combustion engine, which has an output of about 400 kW (544 hp). The extremely environment friendly 1.6-liter turbo engines run on superior sustainable gasoline – additionally a prerequisite for Audi’s entry into the sequence.
Excessive Recognition in Key Markets and with Younger Goal Teams
Globally acknowledged, extremely emotional, and technologically superior – that’s how System 1 has met Audi’s actual necessities. The sequence holds races in all related markets of the model.
As a spectacular platform for probably the most demanding electrified racing vehicles on the earth, it’s of specific curiosity to automotive producers. Audi is taking up the problem of proving its “Vorsprung durch Technik” on this aggressive setting.
The good curiosity in System 1 is world and the racing sequence is likely one of the sporting occasions with the best attain on the earth. In 2021, greater than 1.5 billion TV viewers watched the races.
System 1 is in style in key markets comparable to China and the USA, and the development continues to rise – even amongst younger goal teams. On social media, System 1 is now experiencing the best progress charges among the many world’s hottest sports activities.
Neuburg Website to Develop the Energy Unit
The facility unit will likely be constructed at Audi Sport’s state-of-the-art Competence Heart Motorsport in Neuburg an der Donau, not removed from AUDI AG’s firm headquarters in Ingolstadt.
“For the event and manufacture of the System 1 energy prepare, we are going to construct on the precious experience of our motorsport workers, proceed to spend money on our motorsports heart, and likewise recruit extremely specialised professionals,” says Audi Sport Managing Director Julius Seebach, who organized the entry into System 1 as a part of Audi’s realignment of motorsport.
In Neuburg there are already take a look at benches for F1 engine testing in addition to for electrical motor and battery testing. Further obligatory preparations are presently being made when it comes to personnel, buildings, and technical infrastructure, with every part important to be in place by the top of the yr.
A separate firm was lately based for the facility unit venture as a completely owned subsidiary of Audi Sport. Adam Baker will take over the administration of the corporate and thus the System 1 venture as CEO. The skilled engineer has held numerous senior positions for producers and groups in motorsport. Earlier than becoming a member of Audi in 2021, he labored for the FIA for 3 years.
Audi will announce a choice on which crew they are going to be lining up with in 2026 by the top of this yr.
System 1 Determination Governs Motorsport Focus
Audi Sport is pooling its strengths for the System 1 venture and as a consequence is discontinuing its LMDh venture. The motorsport division had lately suspended the event of the sports activities automotive for endurance racing.
Alongside buyer racing, Audi Sport will proceed its innovation venture with the RS-Q e-tron within the Dakar Rally. Subsequent yr, Audi’s intention is general victory within the desert.
Whether or not the World Rally Championship, World Sportscar Championship, US motorsport, DTM, Le Mans, or System E – Audi Sport has set requirements in lots of classes with quite a few titles. “System 1 is the following main milestone in Audi’s motorsport historical past,” says Julius Seebach.
Rolf Michl to succeed Julius Seebach
Audi’s entry into System 1 marks the conclusion of its motorsport restructure, but in addition the shut of a formative interval at Audi Sport GmbH. Managing Director Julius Seebach will be part of AUDI AG on September 1, 2022, and can tackle a brand new strategic enterprise space in Technical Improvement, reporting on to the Government Board.
Hoffmann, who, in his function as an Government Board member additionally serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board of Audi Sport GmbH, want to thank Seebach for his efficiency: “Julius stands for strategic foresight, constant motion, and sustainable ends in difficult occasions.”
Below his management, Audi Sport GmbH has repeatedly achieved report gross sales and earnings figures. Gross sales doubled with the RS mannequin offensive and the all-electric RS e-tron GT was efficiently delivered to market.
In 2020, Seebach additionally assumed accountability for motorsport at Audi and resolutely made it prepared for the longer term. Below his management, probably the most complicated racing automotive in Audi historical past was developed in report time: the RS Q e-tron for the Dakar Rally.
Following its profitable debut with 4 stage wins on the Dakar Rally in January, the Audi RS Q e-tron achieved its first general victory in Abu Dhabi in March – the primary triumph of a automotive with an electrical powertrain in a desert rally. Getting into System 1 is the profitable conclusion of his work.
Beginning September 1, Seebach will likely be succeeded by Rolf Michl, who has been Chief Working Officer Racing at Audi Sport since February. Along with Dr. Sebastian Grams, he’ll kind the Administration Board of Audi Sport GmbH. Michl has a level in enterprise administration and is a long-standing member of the Audi Sport household.
After holding numerous positions in advertising at AUDI AG and Audi Sport, he took over as Head of Product Advertising and marketing RS Fashions in 2016. After shifting to Abt Sportsline as Director Automobile Customization, he returned to Audi Sport GmbH as Head of Gross sales/Advertising and marketing in 2019. Michl has performed a key function in shaping the corporate’s portfolio and gross sales successes over time.
Hoffmann notes that “Rolf is an genuine chief and brings with him the expertise he’ll want from motorsport and sequence manufacturing.” Along with his positions in advertising, Michl was accountable for devising and implementing the Audi Sport TT Cup in 2014.