Audi’s made a big decision for its 2026 F1 entry that will be critical for sparking life into the underperforming team it is taking over.
After persistent speculation that Audi’s commitment to its first ever works F1 programme is wavering, the German manufacturer has now proved the opposite is true.
Audi’s going all-in, buying 100% of Sauber in what it calls a bid to “accelerate the preparations” for 2026.
This a victory for Sauber CEO and new Audi F1 team CEO Andreas Seidl, who has been pushing for more support from Audi, sooner, to make the changes he believes are necessary to achieve its goals from 2026 onwards.
It should also finally put an end to the claims that various high-profile departures from Audi and its parent Volkswagen Group could derail the project entirely.
0:00 Intro
1:40 Change of plan
3:58 Who's running what
6:51 Why this is necessary
8:43 Drivers in sight
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7:56 the sauber people turning around in sync looked like something out of a sitcom intro
Haha agreed
They are a bit of a comedy club tbf
Behind you!
@@Lastname6955Alonso in 2026 probably gonna have a new teammate at AMRF1, with either Dennis Hauger or Jehan Daruvala.
@purwantiallan5089 don't think we're seeing either of those guys in F1 unfortunately, Jehan is already in Formula E
lol a "100% STAKE in Sauber" i chuckled at that pun
Audi has an enviable record in every category it has entered. I hope this continues in F1 and if the driver line up were to be Carlos Sainz' and Niko Hulkenburg it would be a very strong team.
Yup, DAKAR 2024 just entered the chat.😉
Nico should just retire, he's overrated AF!
@@baronvandedem3997 the guy that can get points and challenge factory backed teams in a Haas earns every bit of my respect
@@baronvandedem3997I actually think you're not giving him enough credit tbh. He's done some amazing runs. And usually ends up in points too.
Reckon Audi might even recommit to some German Drivers. If they’re willing to risk it, they might take on Mick S or even lure a “retired” driver back to get some knowledge imparted.
I want Audi and I want to see Carlos Sainz in that beautiful Audi racing suit!
Will be painful to see him in those disgusting Stake colours for a year though - hopefully it'll be worth it
Just go watch Dakar, a different Carlos sainz already wears them 😛
I would be so sad if he goes to Sauber after standing on Leclerc's level for months
I have a feeling Redbull will give Perez's seat to Sainz. Daniel is an under-performer and, in my opinion has no chance of getting that seat if Tsunoda keeps beating him.
@@AlvaroQN98he wasnt anywhere near leclercs level, that why they got rid of him. 2023 proved that, where the car was centred entirely aound carlos, yet he still lost to charles despite charles being much more unlucky as well.
Between RB, Merc, Ferrari, and now McLaren, Aston, and Audi, someone's "top team" goals are not going to pan out.
Yeah Alpine.
I could not help but notice you didn't even bother to mention Alpine.
you mean red bull not RB right?
Audi will take years to actually get good.
@@Lora_BeolabRed Bull is RB, what you're thinking of is probably visa cashmoneybrappfrfrnocap rb F1 team which should not be called RB
2:45 we saw what you did there m8....you aint slick.
Well the 2026 Driver Transfer could be very interesting.
@@purwantiallan5089 Idk if you you got it, but he means 'to take 100% STAKE in Sauber' while showing a picture with the STAKE logo written on it.
2:45 cheeky ;)
The livery of Audi Sport F1 Team is like the MyTeam livery in F1 23 PS5.
I always thought this Audi plan was strange. You need to get a team and structure that can build a good chassis and you can do that now, so why wait and have to do both in 2026? It's 2024, that team should be building everything minus ICE, hybrid and maybe gearbox in house already. I'm glad they decided to go faster on this.
I think they are waiting for the Regs change... I'm pretty sure they're an engine manufacturer, so no point designing an engine for 24 and 25, and making a new one for 26
@@kingofcars369 make sense
@@kingofcars369 Read again, I'm talking about *chassis* and *team structure*, not engines. They need and must improve that *now*. Waiting to do that can cause huge issues as you'll never know what part of your car needs more improvement as the whole thing would be too new to them. Waiting to start doing both in 2026 could easily turn them into a new Alpine.
there IS chassis changes for 2026. So rn I guess they are just wiping out some issues within the team... Actual development for the car will come for 2026
@@kingofcars369 *sigh* yeah man, everyone knows there are rule changes in 2026. But a team that can build a chassis can do it under all regulations. The same teams are in top 3 there. You must get that right as soon as possible if you can do it. So you have less to worry about. Starting to build an engine in 2026 while your team doesn't even have what it takes to build 100% of the car in good conditions is a terrible idea. Is that clear now??? What the hell...
Anyone else notice that Audi's Oliver Hoffmann is The Race reporter Scott in disguise?
I thought I was the only thinking about it!! 😝😝😝
6:36 as a german, this speaks to me on a fundamental level
Unlucky.
Whoever came up with that Official Joke deserves a Bonus. Really made me chuckle.
Please keep that livery Audi!
Yep. If its already an amazing livery, dont broke it.
The real livery will come together once sponsors come into play
The green one is just horrible
This livery is already iconic before the car has touched the racetrack,
Agree but the team’s sponsors will have to be placed on the car first , before any design.
Officially OFFICIALLY the best The Race joke of 2024 😆
I was close to cover up my Rings on my car, if they would pull out. But now I polisch them🔥
LOVED the editing in this one!
Sainz makes the most sense for a big name driver in the Audi, GP winner, ex Ferrari driver and more importantly Audi partnerships with his dad making the relationship with the engine site easy as Carlos sr is there often for Dakar etc
Can I make a suggestion? I have a sight problem and, when I'm relaxed watching your videos, I try to rest my eyes and remove my glasses. But every time a topic starts (which I notice when the video goes a few seconds silent), I have to go back to try to read what will be covered. Could you speak out loud the title of each chapter? It would be great to keep the flow of the video for me.
I bet they will try to introduce all wheel drive in f1 lol
Diesel!
I'm 90% sure they'll try to do something innovative, Audi always does.
@@RefreshingCanOfCoke the FIA does not allow all wheel drive in F1. that's why all wheel drive does not exist in F1.
@@ironspider6851you must be fun at parties
@@ironspider6851 I didn't say the innovation had to be *All-Wheel Drive* . It could be anything.
It came down to the existing owner not willing to put more money in and Audi realizing that with the potential spending advantage they have going forward, outlined at 3:24:, they had to take over so this money could be used.
I loved when Audi dominated Petit Lemans here in the USA when i was younger and able to go to Road Atlanta. And if i ever won the lottery, the Audi R8 is the car i want, i really hope they do well... that freakin car is gorgeous!❤
As a german i would like to see Hülkenberg in Audi. And I would like to see Tramnitz in F2 next year as an Audi Junior
😂 tell me you are joking. Hulk being COMPETITIVE. WIND BEING STILL.
Love the idea of Hulkenberg on the podium
@@danbradley7176put Tatiana Calderon alongside Hulk at Audi.
@@LathropLdST i don't care if they are competitive. But as a geman i want a german in a german car and a german in the academy. They already have Schreiner in the F1 Academy
@@LathropLdSThe is a fantastic driver
I think Theo Pourchaire is a good shout for a seat but now it’s a discussion of whether or not Carlos or Nico gets the other seat.(This is also taking into consideration that if Sainz even wants to be with Audi next season)
How about the Sauber academy's juniors like Pourchaire and Maloney if one of them wins the championship he is currently competing in?
My team. I love the way they’ve worked, gentle on tyres and love weight reduction and good distribution but this year, not enough downforce to push the tyres up to temperature.
I’m confused by the last couple minutes of this video, why absolutely no mention of Sauber junior and current reserve Theo Pourchaire who is very clearly lined up for a seat at the team soon?
At this point Maloney looks a far more interesting option
Audi doing this step is a step to make a strong base for a successful team.
2:45 I see what you did there 😂
I finally have a team to support. Always been a big VW and Audi lover.
I wonder exactly how good Seidl is, didn’t exactly set McLaren alight all the time he was there, the new guy found many things wrong and changed a lot of things behind the scenes, and look how well and quickly they improved from Austria onwards.
I thought the same as well. Is he really all that?
Seidl is great. He took McLaren from a backmarker team to 3rd in the constructors championship. In doing so he also laid the foundations for Stella to take the team further. Seidl’s importance to audi cannot be underestimated.
@@N1NJAKIDDyes he is
It wasn't just him making decisions. Pre-cost cap, his hands would have been tied by the various shareholders. And trying to get top people to leave top teams to join a backmarker was not going to be an easy task. Obviously we don't know exactly what went on behind the scenes, but I doubt Audi would have been so keen on him if they had any doubts.
@@Andev0345 lol not exactly back markers, 2019 4th, 2020-3rd, 2021-4th, 2022-5th, 2023-4th, as I said not exactly setting the team alight, one good year without improving not that a good track record, I’m a Lando fan who did most of the point scoring after a useless Ricardo was a flop in the same car that his first year was with new Mercedes power and rear end, Lando had to learn at the same time as an ex GP winner.
Ocon?? I wouldn’t get him He causes too many troubles
10 second penalty
He’s overrated. As much as I love Danny ric as a person he needs to go too.
And a horrible teammate, honestly they'll probably even be better of taking Lawson
@@chaos2mymind489Yeah if Ricciardo doesn't improve soon, his friendly face won't save him any longer. Tsunoda drives circles around him. Even Lawson did better compared. Sad to see, I love the guy.
That was excellent 👍
I can't wait for the great German rivalry between Mercedes and Audi play out now in F1
Will they have a base at "Motorsport Valley"? Do you think it's important to have a work space here to make it easier for staff to switch teams whilst not uprooting their families.
The chassis factory will remain in Switzerland at Sauber. Audi is currently investing a lot of money in the infrastructure there. The engine will be built at Audi in Germany. Why would they build a factory in England?
andreas knows his shit
How do the cap ex periods overlap. It reset before the previous period ends. Im confused.
I just want to see Sauber be competitive. Team deserves some success and hopefully with the switch to being a works team that will happen. Driver wise I see them wanting at least one German in there so Hulk is a good bet, second seat is more up in the air for me
1:55 where are you showing the audi-team? why in frankfurt?! they are located way more south, is that intention?
It's kinda sad that the academy drivers are being overlooked - Theo Pourchaire had won the 2023 F2 championship, but had to move to Japan to race in the Super Formula and if he impresses there enough, it will be impossible for Sauber and crucially Audi to ignore. Sure, he's no Verstappen, Leclerc or Russell, but he's still young and Audi could have a driver set for years to come. And I'd prefer him over Hülkenberg, who will be near his 40's when Audi becomes a full fledged works team. The 2024 F2 championship on the other hand had created a new set of issues for Sauber/Audi as the Junior Academy of Sauber had signed two Red Bull Academy castaways - Zane Maloney and Enzo Fittipladi. Maloney, driving in his second season with Carlin, had won the opening 2 races in Bahrain and is currently leading the championship over the other Sauber Academy driver Fittipaldi. If either of the two wins the championship they can stamp their claim for a Sauber F1 seat for 2025 and beyond when the metamorphorsis into Audi F1 is completed.
I am personally so excited to see Audi on the grid and their livery looks amazing (obviously there will be sponsors but STILL)
They will have the budget and there engine will be a success
I really hope Audi can build a competitive car and take the fight to the big 3 teams. Should be exciting.
Personally I think it would be interesting seeing Carlos Sainz answer Liam Lawson at Audi seeing as Liam isn’t getting in the car even after his performance last year.
I think Audi will be a contender, and one that drivers will want to join. But it’s going to take a few years. With that said I’m excited to see what they can bring to F1. They are a proven championship winning team.
Hülkenberg and Schuhmacher as an all German team? Would be nice PR.
This year's silly season should be entertaining, indeed. I'm very curious who gets the drive at Audi after so much speculation.
1:55 The audi formula 1 location is in Neuburg near Ingolstadt, north of Munich, the location on your map is wrong.
Only way to attract the calibre is driver the need to get those wins.
Bottas is way ahead of his team mate, he’s a 10 times GP winner !!! With 67 podiums and beat 7 times WDC Hamilton at his best, use to working with the top works team, and is a very quick able driver, surely what Audi wants the first few years at least.
Bottas dissapoints massively at Sauber.
Bottas isn't that great anymore
@@KuchingKingVideoGamer he is, the car isn’t like so often in F1 these days.
To hell with these old drivers, teams need to look at new drivers from F2. We all saw Bearman perform.! New grid, with new guys. Lewis, Alonso, Hulk, Mag, Checho, all need to be changed. And we will have fun and actually watchable races. Thank you!
The Race has to take responsibility for its own part in the dissemination and promotion of misinformation around Audi F1.
no backround music?
What does this mean for say Theo Pourchair, sauber academy f2 champ, where does he fall into this driver market conversation?
Endlich etwas die F1 ist und nicht Skandal!! Und der König bleib BOSS!!! ❤❤❤ all Goes around well now!!
Sainz joining Redbull would be amazing
Why "Amazing"? he is a good driver but not " exceptional"
@@grahamlongley8298 He is one of the best on the current grid and probably the best one available, him or Alonso Would also be kinda funny considering the older Toro Rosso days where he was also Max's teammate, so kinda of a return to older days literally a decade ago Edit: and to add to this, something Carlos has that Alonso doesn't have is his dad on the paddock, Carlos Sr and Jos salt on the paddock would be fun to watch as well lol
@@grahamlongley8298 That's exactly what Red Bull would want if Verstappen is still there.
@@DisamerdScroll Rightly said
alonso would be even more amazing
Ocon is a bad choice, doesn't matter if he's good in the car or not he's not a team player, regularly causing trouble with the other driver. Albon is a great choice, Hulk also a decent shout with vast experience though not in winning races but he is good.
Alonso fans still salty Ocon beat him. 😂
@@paperplane-db8qf Alonso never lost to a team mate, unless the team tampered with his car and/or tuned down his engine.
@@paperplane-db8qf aye, it was same with Russell Vs Kubica in Williams, Kubica mouthing off about how garbage the car is, he did most of the damage caused to parts, yet, he was the one that scored a point after all the work Russell did. It's Ocons atttude towards team mates and other drivers that wrecks the teams progress, and they desperately need it, canot develope when drivers are fighting not working together, and Ocon is the only consistent thing in that going backward team.
@@oonmm lol. Alonso lost to Tarso Marquez because he made an error in their most competitive race. Alonso lost to Trulli in 2004 even though he was the clear favorite driver and Trulli was fired for beating Alonso. Alonso lost to rookie Hamilton even with no reliability issues when Hamilton had a gearbox issue in Brazil. He also had team orders gift him a win in Monaco. Alonso lost to Button in 2015 fairly. Alonso lost to Ocon in 2022 because of reliability issues yes, but he only Won in 2021 because Ocon had reliability issues. So it’s the same. “Alonso has never lost to his teammate unless the team tampered with him” 🤣 Alonso fans are so delusional
@@will4may175 Alpines struggles are with its management and engines. Nothing to do with Ocon. Ocon’s attitude is fine. Alonso fanboys just don’t like that Ocon wasn’t a doormat like Massa and raced him.
alternative headline: F1 media creates drama where nothing is found and generates more content
I think Audi will try & coach someone for their #1 seat. I think Audi attempts to get Piasteri on a transfer with Pourchaire as the #2.
Hype it up
Uhhhh! Oliver Hoffman looks like Will Riker with glasses, lol😂😂
Don’t know what all the hype is in two years Formula One gonna implode with all this drama going on it’s not gonna be around any much longer
9:30 huh? Did i miss something or does alex albon not have a podium finish to his name?
He got two podiums in 2020
@@MiskyWisky oh damn. Didn't know that. I was fully convinced that he only had 2 podium opportunities taken away from him when he battled lewis
Okay, Audi, you've earned my respect, unlike Porsche, who's still revving in the wrong lane.
3 years is just too ambitious
Can't imagine any team wanting to pick up Ocon. Between clearly not being a top tier driver and the way he never gets on with any teammate, he's a huge liability that seems lucky to stay on the grid. No point having a driver with the ability of a 2nd driver, but mentality that he should always be treated as the main driver unless you're teaming him with rookies.
First time Audi F1 involvement ........ but only if you completely ignore Auto Union which became Audi (which used the an initial design by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche).
/pedant That was the European Grand Prix championship not Formula One. I consider them the same championship since most of the events are the same (Monaco GP, Italian GP, French GP etc), but officially the world championship to Formula One rules (or Formula Two at times) starts in 1950 only. 🤔
F1 started in 1950. Everything prior that was European Championship.
Very exciting news however it meant going away from GT3. The R8LMS GT3 is a fantastic car (I know, I race one…)
Curious move but if it works it works
Been a bit worried that Audi don’t realise how big the mountain will be with Sauber so hopefully this is a sign they get it now
I am looking forward to see Oliver Bearman and Carlos Sainz Jr. in Audi Sport F1 Team!
Ollie is either going to Ferrari or Haas
@@maviana3794 ferrari won’t be possible atm due to hamilton’s move and ferrari aren’t gonna get rid of charles, i think bearman will go to haas for 2 years and then if he proves himself worthy he’ll get the ferrari seat most likely replacing hamilton.
duesmann, is a fire name....
As someone who works for a German company (remotely from the Anglosphere), the Oooofficial commentary had me laughing. My work runs the same way and it is wild to experience. Everyone knows what’s going to happen months before it’s confirmed so we just start operating that way and look like geniuses when upper management looks for compliance with the “new” decision.
Imagine if Vettel & Rosberg came back to drive for Audi. All German lineup 😃
I don’t see how Nico would make a bigger impact than Bottas or Carlos.
As for the driver pairing Sainz seems as the most obvious choice as he already worked with Seidl and his father is racing with Audi in Dakar, then again it would be hard to decline an offer from someone like Red Bull if a spot opens up and he's got to F1 with their junior program as well It's hard to see Audi failing to be a frequent point scorer and a podium contender given their success in other motorsports but then again there's always stories of Jaguar, Honda etc in the 2000s so nothing is a given, who knows maybe with enough time to get ready for the 2026 engine regulations changes and the rumours that it will turn F1 once again into an engine motorsport such as it was with the 2014 changes maybe Audi pulls a Mercedes kind of end of the stick and straight up dominates
That scene @8:00 where alll the guys turn at the same time in there black with green striped jackets, should be memed.
just add the Office theme
You and the boys when Lewis announced moving to Ferrari
2026 will all be new car dimensions, new aero, new rules so I think Audi won't miss out since everyone will be on the same playing field in figuring out the best possible ways to bend those new rules. I won't rule out Audi in being quickly competitive halfway in 2026 since they have a knack of being so in every racing category they enter - WRC, LeMans, DTM, Pikes Peak, Super Touring etc.
I’m very curious about Bottas tbh. If Audi comes in, and creates a fast car, how would Bottas perform? We know he is good and consistent enough to almost always be on the podium providing the car is good enough. Yes, he won’t be a number one driver, but he could be a really consistent and experienced number 2, that is more than capable of picking up the pieces.
I think sainz would be a great fit he deserves a shot at being the number one diver on a team. Ferraris refusal to see Leclair might not be the driver that they hoped he would be is hurting the team and sainz.
Sainz + Abon seems dangerous... for their rivals lmfao. two of the most consistant drivers on the grid in the same team
1:27 “once again, a lot of noise has emanated from misunderstandings or misrepresentations…” there’s tons of that amongst the F1 media, always has been, The Race included. We got it wrong, but it wasn’t OUR fault…….THEY did things differently than we expected so how could we not misunderstand what was going on. Don’t blame us, blame them.🤦♂️
“Handling everything according to the company governance” instantly reminds me of the exact thing that was in the way of Toyota’s success in F1.. slow decision making by more and more people far remote from the actual team. We all know what thad lead to!
Haha I was thinking there's no way Audi will have that much paint.
Just curious, but why isn't a driver contract with any of the promising rookies sitting on the sidelines an option? We've had Piastri, Lawson, and Bearman perform impressively well in their debut rookie drives, with 2 or 3 more fast and hyped rookies sitting on the sidelines. I respect the current drivers and believe they're all extremely talented (at one point) to prove their worth, but F1 should always be a fierce revolving door for drivers fighting for the top. It's growing stale
you forgott something for the Driver Sainz for Audi....the Name Sainz and Audi are longer together then the words Hamilton and F1 Champion, the connection between Sainz and Audi has and big bonus through his dad and i`m pretty sure he will take the risk just to burn his name into history becoming the next sainz that won with Audi an championship
Alonso and carlos same team in audi 😎
2:46 good joke there
it's punny
Are we getting merch? From audi finally
I'll believe it when a fully funded team turns up.
10:50 gee, Sainz is gonna be busy in 2026!
Not only Sainz. Kasumi Nakasu, Keke Tang, Lando Norris, and Perez also.
Sainz and Hulkenberg for their respective driving ability, and for their off track marketability. Hulkenberg needs to get into a quick car to show people what he can really do. One of the biggest stars not to have fullfiled his potential not due to him.
Sainz and Hulkenberg will be who i expect. a German and race winner
They should call themselves Audit Sport because I guarantee they see cost-cap related controversy in their first 2 years.
I think Sainz will end up at Mercedes, Red Bull, or Aston Martin. He's just the best option for the big teams right now, and Sauber looks like a very risky bet for a driver who's proving himself to be one of the best. I'm predicting an all-new lineup of an experienced driver of Hulkenberg/Ricciardo, and a rookie of Maloney/Pourchaire.
I want audi to completely dominate this
Works team guarantees absolutely nothing if the foundation and infrastructure isn’t there. Just ask Alpine/Renault
They won 2005 and 2006 championships lol. Every team has its ups and downs.
I know the livery will chage for 2026, but is that a 2025 spec car by any chance?
An early full takeover gives Audi access to current data once the deal is done. Giving Audi loads of info about their future needs.
Sainz' father is driving for Audi in the Dakar....He was there during all stages to support his father!! Obviously Audi noticed it and they've offered the son a very handsome package to race for Audi F1 while his father will continue with Audi in the Dakar!!
remember BMW ??? i still have doubts about Hinwil factory and sauber experties. everyone (even VCARB) is going to UK.
9:37 Funny that Lance Stroll isn't listed.