Sharjah24 – AFP: German car manufacturer Audi will become an engine supplier in Formula One for the first time in the 2026 season, chairman Markus Duesmann announced on Friday.
Audi will announce the team they will supply by the end of the year although it is widely expected to be Sauber, who presently race as Alfa Romeo with a Ferrari engine.
The announcement was made at Spa Francorchamps, the venue for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix with Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali and Mohammed ben Sulayem, President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), motorsport's governing body present.
"Formula 1 is both a global stage for our brand and a highly challenging development laboratory," Duesmann said in a statement.
The engine will be developed at Audi Sport's facility in Neuburg near Ingolstadt with the company heralding the fact it will be "the first time in more than a decade that a Formula 1 power train will be built in Germany."
Adam Baker -- who before joining Audi in 2021 worked for FIA for three years -- will take over the management of the company and the Formula 1 project as CEO.
Audi added in the statement that Formula One's stated goals to become more sustainable attracted them.
Audi also sees enormous potential by being associated with Formula One for selling more cars globally.
Audi did race pre World War II in the European Championship that was the root of Formula One which began post war.
Audi and three other German car manufacturers formed the Auto Union company.
They enjoyed their most successful campaign in 1936 when Bernd Rosemeyer won three of the four races, winning the title, with team-mate Hans Stuck second.
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