Insider now reports: Audi F1 project “in turmoil” – The grand Formula One project set upon by the FIA to increase the number of manufactures in Formula One appears to be lying in tatters. Having taken the decision to persist with hybrid power units from 2026 onwards at the request of incoming OEM’s, Porsche failed to make it over the line and now Audi are in “turmoil.”

Even the move by General Motors to build a powertrain and join the sport is at present a vague promise for 2028. A number of the teams headed up by Red Bull had expressed concerns over continuing with the heavy hybrid power units and proposed a return to V8’s with 100% bio fuels, which would have been a cheaper and a more road car relevant approach.

Stefano Domenicali cast doubt on the FIA’s decision as they announced the 2026 power unit regulations in full. “My personal opinion is that it would be enough to run on climate-neutral fuel. But we had to take into account the wishes of the manufacturers.”

 

 

 

Hybrid wrong direction for FIA

“Developments have gone so fast that a decision today might be different from what it was two years ago. I am not an engineer, but I have to have a vision of what the sport will look like in the future. And I can imagine that with the next regulations, we can focus on sustainable fuel,” Domenicali said in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport.

Yet Mercedes, Porsche and Audi insisted hybrid was the future, a decision which now looks short sighted given the shift to fully electric cars amongst the consumers in Europe. V8 cars would have been much lighter and more nimble something the drivers in unison claim is the future of F1.

Porsche wanted a 50% stake in the Red Bull Racing team, something which Christian Horner found unpalatable given the corporate nature of the German brands culture.

“Recently, we had exactly that dilemma, where we had an opportunity to work with a new manufacturer taking a significant shareholding in the team. But it was recognised that our DNA would be affected if we could not continue to operate exactly in the manner that has made us successful with that ability to make quick-fire decisions without having to go through layers and layers of process and bureaucracy,” Horner explained following the collapse in the talks with Porsche.

Mercedes ‘cheating’? Russell DSQ

 

 

 

Just Audi join F1 after FIA efforts

Until last week, the Audi F1 project at least had been the single ‘success’ in the FIA’s drive for more manufacturers, yet Alpine have now announced they will be powered by Mercedes which raises questions over the future of their historic F1 engine building operation at Viry-Chattilon. So the push to retain V6 turbo hybrid power units in F1 has resulted in a net gain of ZERO more manufacturers while GM yet wait in the wings apparently given the cold shoulder so far by the F1 establishment.

Project Audi F1 has stumbled from the get go. The slow partial acquisition of the Sauber team and lack of funds from Germany have seen persistent questions over Audi’s commitment to F1.

In an attempt to douse down speculation, Audi accelerated the completion of the Sauber buyout earlier this season, but the cash strapped Sauber had already retained Zhou Guangu due to the $30m a year he brings in Chinese sponsorship.

TJ13 reported back in July, there was infighting between Audi F1 CEO Andreas Seidl and corporate executive Oliver Hoffman. In the run up to the Belgium Grand Prix both were sacked and the shock recruitment of ex-Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto was announced.

Testing shootout planned for Ricciardo and Lawson

 

 

 

Williams F1 have a vision

In 2023 TJ13 reported that Binotto had visited the Audi facilities and allegedly described those in charge as “clowns.”

Carlos Sainz decision not to join a German sports car brand works team speaks volumes. Instead the Spaniard chose the Williams outfit who have for some two decades been a back of the grid outfit.

Yet Williams boss James Vowles has a vision for the future of the team and owners Dorilton are pouring in “hundreds of millions” according to Vowles.

On the announcement of his future, Sainz claimed he was “fully confident” that Williams was the right choice adding: “The ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where it belongs, at the front of the grid, is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity.

“I am convinced that this team has all the right ingredients to make history again and starting on January 1 I will give my absolute best to drive Williams forward alongside every single member of the team.”

Aston F1 boss refuses to rule out Audi move

 

 

 

Sainz vote of ‘no confidence’ in Audi

Whilst Carlos decision is a vote of confidence for Williams, Craig Slater speaking to the Sky Sports podcast claims, “I think is was a vote of no confidence for Sauber/Audi, chiefly when you think about the family connection with Sainz and Carlos Sainz Senior winning Dakar with Audi and the Volkswagen Group.”

“For him to walk away from that when it seemed the most obvious place for him to go is a clear sign that things are not right there.”

Slater then claims to have a source inside the Audi project and its not a pretty sight.

“I spoke to someone who has a good window on what the goings on are like currently at that team.

GM “interested” in buying Renault F1 engine business

 

 

 

Things going “badly wrong”

“He’s not saying anything which isn’t obvious, but he described it to me as a mess and observed that this is a team that can’t even put a wheel on a car properly at the moment.

“So the turmoil at the top is reflective of things going badly wrong at the moment.”

Slater’s source believes Audi have vastly underestimated the challenge of joining Formula One. He continued: “They also expressed to me the notion that they have underestimated Audi, and this isn’t the first time we’ve maybe heard about a manufacturer doing this, how difficult it is to get things right in Formula One in the time of timescale they’re working with.

“So I think all of that has been a turn-off for Sainz. I think he is worried if he goes there, he’s in the kind of situation that Bottas and Zhou are in, not much better next year, and who is to say what happens the year after that as well.”

Williams speak out over “Sainz clause”

 

 

 

Audi not integrated before 2027

Sauber’s technical director, James Key, admitted earlier this season that the Sauber/Audi integration may not be fully complete before the end of 2026 when the German brand will first compete in F1.

As to Sainz Slater argues, “I think in a way that he has chosen the best option available to him. And yes, I think someone as logical and as practical and pragmatic as Sainz and it’s a shame that he’s kind of in this position, I can’t quite understand that.

“But all his driver moves have made sense at the time, it’s just they’ve all not worked out correctly. I think he will look James Vowles in the eye and be convinced by him.

“He’s someone who knows what he is doing and what he is doing with Williams make sense, even if there are some sacrifices along the way and that is not clear at those other teams.”

Sauber remain the only team this year which after fourteen races has failed to score a single point.

Schumacher F1 return back on as Alpine lose out on Sainz

 

 

 

Allegations Disney leant on Red Bull F1 over ditching Perez

Something remarkable happened in Formula One land this week and the timing of the event meant no one is available for comment for the next three weeks. It was announced at the Milton Keynes debrief to the entire workforce that Red Bull Racing would be retaining Sergio Perez.

In some ways even more remarkable was the announcement that Daniel Ricciardo would also remain in the V-CARB car, while Liam Lawson is again kept waiting. Dr. Helmut Marko has been ramping up the pressure on the Aussie in recent weeks claiming the Red Bull parent company shareholders want the team to return to blooding young drivers for F1 – code for Daniel Ricciardo has to go.

The 81 year old Austrian was explicit in his views of Ricciardo’s future in Austria when he told Kleine Zeitung prior to the Austrian GP: “The shareholders have made it clear that this is a junior team and we have to operate accordingly”… READ MORE