With a Swiss German Oxfordshire Qatari twist…
Yeah, Y’all might be saying its really not a
new team per se. Especially since its even longer since Michael Andretti’s
Dealio’ to purchase the Alfa Romeo branded Sauber F1 Team from Finn Rausing and
His Longbow Finance company collapsed in the eleventh hour, Wayback’ in Gory
2021!
Michael
Andretti Slams “Joke” terms after failed Alfa Romeo takeover
We all know that Audi AG swooped in and
successfully negotiated with Rausing, Arse-sumedly for a larger payout; buying out
Sauber Motorsport AG over a three year period of gradual shareholding increase.
Beginning with 25% in 2022.
The Sauber F1 Team began competing at the 1993
South African Grand Prix under the direction of founder Peter Sauber before
undergoing ownership change at season’s end, 2005. When BMW became it’s owner
and rebranded the team as BMW Sauber F1 Team. (2006-2009) Then reverted back to
Sauber when BMW exited, and Peter Sauber rescued His namesake entity.
In 2016, Rausing’s Longbow Finance took
control, before the team ran as Alfa Romeo Racing between 2019-2023, albeit
simply a marketing exercise with technical support from Ferrari, whose power
units it was still utilizing.
The team was rebranded again as Stake F1 Teams Kick
Sauber between 2024-2025 while Audi’s shareholding increased, before complete 100%
ownership occurred in January, 2025.
Audi AG, who in turn is owned by Volkswagen AG
now holds a 70% stake in the venture after having sold 30% to the Qatar
Investment Authority. (QIA) Who are a major shareholder of Volkswagen AG.
Interestingly, Rausing also played a key role in
Marcus Ericsson’s career, although I think He’s not involved anymore. Since
Ericsson moved to Andretti Global and the Huski Chocolate sponsorship ended…
Audi, along with Ford and later Honda, all
agreed to become manufacturers of the new Yo-Yo racing’s E-E-ElectraFried’
50/50 power units (PU( for 2026, and in turn ultimately became a full blown
Formula 1 constructor.
Interestingly, one of Formula One’s most vocal
critics, reigning F1 World Champion Lando Norris told the media how F1 was
chasing money by making rules to entice new manufacturers vs. drivers recently…
Lando
Norris Hits out at Formula 1 for putting Money Ahead of Drivers
Yo Lando,
newsflash. Welcome to reality!
Yet Audi’s involvement in Formula 1 dates back
to the pre-war era of the 1930’s. When Auto Union, forebearer of Audi competed
against the original Silver arrows, nee Mercedes. When the two German marques
competed for supremacy of the European Championship between 1935-39. With Bernd
Rosemeyer winning the drivers title for Auto Union in 1936.
Initially, McLaren’s Team Principal Andreas
Seidl was announced as the CEO of Audi’s Formula 1 project in mid-2022. Leaving
McLaren immediately and beginning His new role on January 1, 2023. Then a year
later Seidl was appointed CEO of the Audi F1 race team.
Yet just four months later, Seidl and Chief
Technical Officer Oliver Hossman were both “let go”, with Mattia Binotto
assuming the dual roles of CEO and COO.
Longtime Red bull stalwart and Sporting
Director Jonathan Wheatley, who’d became Sauber’s Team Principal in April, 2025.
Also left Audi in March, 2026 for personal reasons. With Binotto assuming the
role of Team Principal.
While thee Scottish Terrier’, aka Allan McNish,
who’d previously been announced as Audi’s Driver Development “Minder”. Took on
the added role of Audi F1 Racing Director, responsible for all trackside
operations.
Despite getting off to a somewhat troubled
start, with Nico Hulkenberg unable to start at Melbourne. And Gabriel Bortoleto
at Shanghai due to power unit technical issues. Bortoleto did score Audi’s maiden
Formula 1 points Down Under at Bloody Albert Park (Melbourne) in ninth place.
Bortoleto’s just announced having signed a
multi-year contract extension, and thee Incredible Hulkster’ (Hulkenberg) is
set to continue in 2027. With the pair having scored 12 points as of the
Hungarian Grand Prix.
Thus, as of the summer break, Audi F1 was eighth in the vaunted F1 Constructors championship, one point ahead of Williams. And comfortably ahead of their newcomer arrivals Aston Martin (Honda) and Cadillac.
