Beginning in 2026, Audi will compete in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with a specially developed power unit, the automaker announced ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. The project will be based at Audi Sport’s facility in Neuburg near Ingolstadt.
“Motorsport is an integral part of Audi’s DNA,” said Audi Chairman Markus Duesmann. “Formula 1 is both a global stage for our brand and a highly challenging development laboratory. The combination of high performance and competition is always a driver of innovation and technology transfer in our industry. With the new rules, now is the right time for us to get involved. After all, Formula 1 and Audi both pursue clear sustainability goals.”
New technical rules, which will apply in Formula 1 from 2026, focusing on greater electrification and advanced sustainable fuel. From 2026, the electric power output for the power units, consisting of an electric motor, battery, control electronics, and a combustion engine, will increase sharply compared to today’s Formula 1 drive systems, Audi said. The electric motor will then be nearly as powerful as the combustion engine, which has an output of about 544 hp. The 1.6-liter turbo engines run on advanced sustainable fuel – also a prerequisite for Audi’s entry into the series.
The power unit will be built at Audi Sport’s Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg an der Donau, the company said.
“For the development and manufacture of the Formula 1 power train, we will build on the valuable expertise of our motorsport employees, continue to invest in our motorsports center, and also recruit highly specialized professionals,” said Audi Sport Managing Director Julius Seebach, who organized the entry into Formula 1 as part of Audi’s realignment of motorsport.
In Neuburg, there are already test benches for F1 engine testing as well as for electric motor and battery testing. Additional necessary preparations are currently being made in terms of personnel, buildings, and technical infrastructure, with everything essential to be in place by the end of the year, Audi said.
Additionally, a separate company was recently founded for the power unit project as a wholly owned subsidiary of Audi Sport. Adam Baker will take over the management of the company and thus the Formula 1 project as CEO. The trained engineer has held various senior positions for manufacturers and teams in motorsport. Before joining Audi in 2021, he worked for the FIA for three years.
Audi will announce a decision on which team they will be lining up with in 2026 by the end of this year.
