Audi are aiming for nothing lower than victory in Formula One after three years, they usually anticipate that engine modifications once they take part 2026 will give them an edge to open the door to success sooner.
Germany’s Audi will compete as a manufacturing unit staff in F1 from 2026, with the Volkswagen subsidiary creating the engine and the chassis being constructed by skilled Swiss agency Sauber.
“We have signed up for the period 2026 to 2030. We want to be in a position to be able to fight for victories after three years,” Adam Baker, managing director of Audi Formula Racing GmbH mentioned.
“You have to be realistic. The first and second years can also be tough. However, it is very difficult to predict that.”
Baker used to move Formula One engine improvement at BMW and is now liable for energy unit improvement at Audi.
New technical rules will apply from 2026, when vehicles will likely be simply as highly effective however will use much less vitality and produce internet zero carbon exhaust emissions.
“That opens up greater opportunities to be competitive faster as a newcomer. The way to get there is cost-cap regulated. Everyone has the same chances, everyone has to deal with the same challenge for 2026. And the challenge will be as enormous as it has ever been in Formula One,” Baker mentioned.
“If you do a good job, there’s a chance you can be right up front in 2026.”
A German driver on the staff could be very best however Audi is not going to attempt to power the problem. Nico Hulkenberg would be the solely German driver on the F1 grid subsequent season after he changed Mick Schumacher at Haas. Schumacher is now a reserve driver at Mercedes.
“It would be attractive, of course, but for us the performance of the drivers has priority,” Baker mentioned, including that selections on drivers for 2026 are “too far away. We’re not even talking about the drivers for 2024 yet, so it’s very difficult to say how the driver market will develop for 2026.”
However, Baker introduced that Audi will “bring a development driver on board for the third quarter” subsequent yr “who will be particularly important for our power unit development in the driving simulator.”
The future Formula One staff already has 220 staff at their Neuburg an der Donau base in Bavaria, nearly all of whom come from Audi Sport Racing.
“We are already internationally positioned here at the site and the recruiting process is also geared this way. We are targeting experts who already have Formula One experience,” defined Baker.
“This is the first time since 2009 that a power unit has been developed in Germany. Therefore, if we want experienced personnel, we are more likely to find them in the U.K., France or Italy.”
The staff is anticipated to develop to 300 staff by mid-2023.
