It appears that Audi is on a little bit of a killing spree in terms of its personal motorsport packages as of late. So you’ll excuse me if I don’t instantly dismiss these rumors that Audi goes to renege on its F1 commitments. Despite saying that it could purchase the Sauber F1 group and its entry to the championship from the 2026 season, it appears the F1 deal was former CEO Markus Duesmann’s doing, and his successor isn’t so positive it’s the correct transfer.
The 4 rings already killed off its Formula E and DTM packages to deal with a LMDh prototype sports activities automobile racing program. In the center of 2022, the model then introduced that the LMDh which had not but turned a lap would die in favor of a foray into the heady waters of Formula One, taking its GT3 and buyer racing efforts down with it. The Ingolstadt model has even determined to finish its hybrid Dakar program subsequent 12 months. A variety of packages have met the axe man these days, it wouldn’t be all that a lot of a shock if F1 was subsequent.
Duesmann was a pure match for Formula One, as he has an extended historical past within the sport. Back in 2005, whereas working at Mercedes-Benz, he was given the title of Head of Development for F1 Engines at McLaren-Mercedes. In 2007 Duesmann joined BMW and led engine growth for Sauber, then powered by and partnered with the Bavarian model. He would have been the pure chief to return to Sauber, and produce Audi with him as CEO and board chair. Just a few months in the past he was unceremoniously ousted from the corporate and changed with former product technique VP Gernot Döllner.
Since Döllner’s appointment this summer time, rumors have been swirling that he’d again down from the 2026 F1 promise. Earlier this month an Audi spokesperson responded to the rumors, saying “The schedule of Audi Formula Racing GmbH … remains unchanged.” But everyone knows these sorts of responses are price about as a lot because the server area they’re written on.
A report out of France at this time has many considering Audi has discovered the out it’s been in search of. Porsche may take over for Audi as Sauber’s associate. Porsche initially was tied to Red Bull as engine provider, however that fizzled out in contract negotiations, as Red Bull increased ups felt Porsche was asking for an excessive amount of management of the three way partnership. Red Bull has since partnered with Ford. Similar talks fell aside with Williams, McLaren, and Aston Martin. At one level Porsche was reportedly decided to buy a phase of the Aston Martin street automobile enterprise in an effort to get a spot on the grid.
Porsche just lately introduced that it could abandon its efforts to get on the Formula One grid, as a substitute selecting to deal with its current Formula E program. Clearly the Stuttgart model was determined, however couldn’t discover a solution to make it occur. If Sauber is keen to do a switcheroo, popping Audi out and sister-brand Porsche in, it may very well be the answer each manufacturers wish to see. Makes sense, may very well be enjoyable.
Source: jalopnik.com