AFTER years efficiently competing in quite a few motorsport disciplines, Audi has this week confirmed its intention to compete as an engine provider within the FIA Components 1 from 2026.
Audi Sport is pooling its strengths for the Components 1 undertaking and is discontinuing its LMDh undertaking. The motorsport division had not too long ago suspended the event of the sports activities automotive for endurance racing.
Nevertheless, alongside buyer racing, Audi Sport will proceed its innovation undertaking with the RS-Q e-tron within the Dakar Rally. Subsequent 12 months, Audi’s intention is general victory within the desert.
Based mostly out of Audi Sport’s facility in Neuburg close to Ingolstadt (Germany), the F1 undertaking marks the primary time in a decade that an F1 powertrain has been in-built Germany.
The F1 information was introduced at a press convention earlier than the Components 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
On the convention, Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Administration of AUDI AG mentioned: “Motorsport is an integral a part of Audi’s DNA and Components 1 is each a world stage for our model and a extremely difficult growth laboratory”.
“The mixture of excessive efficiency and competitors is at all times a driver of innovation and expertise switch in our business. With the brand new guidelines, now’s the correct time for us to become involved. In spite of everything, Components 1 and Audi each pursue clear sustainability targets.”
Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Administration for Technical Improvement, mentioned: “The important thing to getting concerned on this planet’s hottest racing sequence is the a part of a transparent plan to change into extra sustainable and cost-efficient”.
“The brand new technical guidelines, which can apply from 2026, give attention to larger electrification and superior sustainable gasoline. Along with the present cap on prices for groups, a price cap for energy unit producers might be launched in 2023.
“As well as, Components 1 has set itself the formidable aim of being a carbon-neutral racing sequence by 2030.
“In view of the most important technological leaps that the sequence is making in the direction of sustainability in 2026, we will converse of a brand new Components 1. Components 1 is reworking, and Audi needs to actively assist this journey.
“An in depth hyperlink between our Components 1 undertaking and AUDI AG’s Technical Improvement division will allow synergies,” he mentioned.
To make clear, from 2026, the electrical energy output for energy items in F1 vehicles, consisting of an electrical motor, battery, management electronics, and a combustion engine, will improve sharply in comparison with as we speak’s Components 1 drive methods.
Reflecting mainstream automotive developments, the electrical motor might be almost as highly effective because the combustion engine, which has an output of about 400kW. The Audi powertrain will use a excessive effectivity 1.6-litre turbo engine working on superior sustainable gasoline.
Audi selected a dedication to F1 as a result of the championship is globally recognised, extremely emotional, and technologically superior – what Audi says meets their precise necessities significantly because the sequence holds races in all related markets of the model.
As we quickly enter the EV period, F1 offers a spectacular platform, with greater than 1.5 billion tv viewers globally, for probably the most demanding electrified racing vehicles on this planet… one thing of explicit curiosity to car-makers.
On social media, Components 1 is now experiencing the very best development charges among the many world’s hottest sports activities.
Audi says it’s taking up the problem of proving its Vorsprung durch Technik on this aggressive atmosphere. The Audi F1 energy unit might be constructed at Audi Sport’s state-of-the-art Competence Centre Motorsport in Neuburg an der Donau, not removed from AUDI AG’s firm headquarters in Ingolstadt.
“For the event and manufacture of the Components 1 energy practice, we are going to construct on the precious experience of our motorsport staff, proceed to put money into our motorsports centre, and likewise recruit extremely specialised professionals,” mentioned Audi Sport managing director Julius Seebach, who organised the entry into Components 1 as a part of Audi’s realignment of motorsport.
The Neuburg facility already has take a look at benches for F1 engine testing in addition to for electrical motor and battery testing.
Further preparations are at the moment being made by way of personnel, buildings, and technical infrastructure, with every part important to be in place by the top of the 12 months.
Audi says a separate firm was not too long ago based for the facility unit undertaking as a completely owned subsidiary of Audi Sport.
Adam Baker will take over the administration of the corporate and thus the Components 1 undertaking as CEO. A skilled engineer, he 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.
By the top of this 12 months Audi will announce a call on which staff they are going to be linking with for 2026.
