The Volkswagen Group has made plans to enter Formulation 1, it has confirmed.
Throughout a question-and-answer session, CEO Herbert Diess mentioned the group’s Audi and Porsche manufacturers will each be part of the game. “You simply run out of arguments,” he mentioned.
Diess additionally revealed that the choice to affix F1 divided opinion among the many Volkswagen Group board of administrators, which was in the end swayed to just accept the choice as a result of it will deliver in additional income than it’ll value.
He mentioned it will likely be necessary for rising model worth and an extra solution to reveal expertise to the competitors.
He added that Porsche specifically will reduce down different racing actions to give attention to F1.
The choice was additionally influenced by F1’s new engine rules, deliberate to be launched for the 2026 season.
“As [Audi chairman] Markus Duesman at all times tells me, you often make up one second per season on a medium-sized race observe just by optimising particulars,” Diess mentioned.
“However you possibly can’t atone for that while you be part of a brand new group: you want 5 or 10 years to be among the many front-runners. In different phrases, you possibly can solely get on board in case you have a significant rule change.”
Diess additionally added that if the Volkswagen Group weren’t to affix F1 at the moment, it might probably want to attend one other 10 years for its subsequent alternative.
“That is coming now, and it’ll additionally come within the course of 2026, when the engines shall be electrified to a a lot higher extent, together with with artificial fuels,” he mentioned. “Which means you want a brand new engine improvement and also you want three or 4 years to develop a brand new engine.
“Which means you possibly can determine now to do Formulation 1 – or then in all probability not once more for 10 years. And our two premium manufacturers suppose that is the appropriate factor to do and are prioritising it.”
The capability wherein Audi and Porsche will be part of F1 isn’t but clear. Porsche has been rumoured to companion with Pink Bull Racing, whereas Audi has beforehand been linked with McLaren, however each corporations have denied any collaboration or buy.
