F1: Sauber to become Audi works racing team in 2026

Audi & Sauber to become Strategic partners for the F1 programme.

Audi has announced that they have reached an agreement with Sauber to make the Swiss F1 operation their works team, starting from 2026.

Ahead of the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix, Audi stated that Sauber, currently running under the Alfa Romeo banner will become their "Strategic Partner" for the F1 programme. The German car brand is said to be planning to acquire a stake in the Sauber Group.

Earlier this year, Audi announced its entry into the sport. The German car maker announced that the company will enter the sport in 2026, once the new regulations come into effect. Audi will develop their own power unit in Neuburg, Germany, while Sauber will develop and manufacture the race car at Hinwil, Switzerland. Sauber is also said to be responsible for planning and executing the race operations.

Sauber currently has Alfa Romeo as their title sponsor, which is said to come to an end after the 2023 F1 season. The team, however, will continue to use Ferrari powertrains till the end of 2025, before becoming the Audi works F1 team in 2026.

Audi states that the company will expand its Neuburg facility in 2023, with the intention to have its first test of the 2026 power unit in an F1 car, sometime in 2025.