- Formula One will implement a plan to become carbon neutral
- Technology advancements present a once-in-a-lifetime chance to challenge Mercedes’ dominant position
- Audi joins this wagon in 2026 for the first time
Starting 2026, Formula One will implement a plan to become carbon neutral by the end of the decade by switching to cars that operate on synthetic fuel, Audi being a new entrant.
Technology advancements present a once-in-a-lifetime chance to challenge Mercedes’ dominant position in the luxury sports car market.
Audi CEO Markus Duesmann said, that motorsport is deeply ingrained in the fabric of Audi. He is now happy that they can now participate because of the new regulations.
In April, Volkswagen’s supervisory board gave the green light for Audi and Porsche to potentially enter the market.
According to stepping down CEO Herbert Diess, both companies saw Formula 1 as the most crucial lever to promote brand value. He cited the competitors’ ambitions to expand into China and the United States as well.
Audi CEO Markus Duesmann. Photo/AudiMediaCenter
Duesmann told reporters on Friday that if both Audi and Porsche want to compete in Formula 1, they will each have to build their own powertrain. The executive also expressed his desire for a future squad to feature a German driver and described Audi’s commitment to the sport as “quite long-term.”
Porsche declared its intention to purchase 50% of Red Bull Technology, the manufacturer of chassis for the Formula 1 team Oracle Red Bull Racing.
This follows Formula One’s governing board adopting engine specifications for 2026, raising hopes for the entry of high-end Volkswagen Group brands like Porsche and Audi.
The World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced that it revised the technical regulations for 2022 and 2023 to address safety issues.
The new engine will still use high-revving 1.6-litre V6s, but it will substantially have more electrical output and run on 100% renewable fuels.
According to rumours, the existing Motor Generator Unit Heat (MGU-H) component must be deleted for the Volkswagen Group brands to enter the market.
The FIA states that the rules are in place to make it possible and attractive for beginners to enter the sport at a competitive level.
FIA added that the engines were developed with collaborative engagement between the FIA and both current and potential new PU (power unit) manufacturers.
Media reports cite that Porsche is purchasing a 50% share in Red Bull Technology, the manufacturer of the championship-leading vehicles.
Christian Horner. Photo/The sportsRush
Christian Horner, principal of the Red Bull racing team, told reporters at the Hungarian Grand Prix last month that his company had engaged in “productive talks” with Porsche, but that there were still many obstacles to overcome.
Horner said that the first true impediment for any new manufacturer coming in is those technical standards for the power unit from 2026 onwards.
There have been rumours that Audi is working with Sauber, the Swiss firm that owns the Alfa Romeo squad.
The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has stated that a lot of work and resources were put into analyzing and fixing the issue of vertical oscillation in the new generation of automobiles that debuted this year.
Sulayem notes that FIA has an obligation to act and ensure that the drivers are not put at undue danger of injury as a result of this phenomenon.”
The FIA plans to take measurements of the phenomena during the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of August.
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