Audi in F1: The Sauber Takeover Explained

On January 9, 2026, the first car built to the new F1 standards debuted in Barcelona. It’s not a Ferrari, it’s not a Mercedes, it’s not a McLaren, it’s an Audi R26; the team’s last F1 win dates back to its BMW Sauber era, nearly two decades ago. This small detail perfectly encapsulates Audi’s attitude towards this great occasion. Even on filming day, most fans witnessed only quiet scenes, with Audi quietly showcasing its new identity.

Audi F1 at a glance

Four rings, almost a hundred years ago

In a way, Audi’s story is very similar. Its predecessor, Auto Union, raced rear-wheel drive Grand Prix from 1934 to 1939, long before another team put an engine behind a driver. In 1936, Bernd Rosemeyer drove the car to victory in the European Championship. This is the essence of F1. However, that all changed in August 2022 when Audi announced it would race in 2026 – the year the new rule comes into effect.

Why Sauber

Unlike Cadillac, Audi didn’t build its team from scratch. In October 2022, Audi confirmed its partnership with the Swiss team Sauber, based in Hinwil, near Zurich. The project was initially launched with Audi planning to own approximately 75% of the shares. In March 2024, Audi announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Sauber, with the deal expected to close in January 2025, worth approximately 600 million euros. In November 2024, the Qatar Investment Authority acquired up to 30% of Sauber through an initial investment.

Sauber has a long and illustrious history in Formula 1, including the BMW Sauber era, and drivers such as Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa, and Charles Leclerc drove for the team. Moreover, before Audi’s arrival, Nico Hulkenberg’s third-place finish at Silverstone in 2025 — his first podium in 239 races — greatly boosted Sauber’s morale.

Boardroom changes

There have been several changes in team management. Former Ferrari team director Mattia Binotto replaces Andreas Seidl in July 2024 as head of the Audi project. In 2025, Jonathan Wheatley joined Sauber from Red Bull as team principal, with his success and championship titles a decade earlier widely recognised. But that didn’t last long. On March 20, 2026, after two races, Wheatley immediately left the team, citing personal reasons. At the time, there were numerous rumors about him joining Aston Martin. Binotto took over as general manager and team director, and in April of the same year, former Le Mans champion Allan McNish was appointed racing director.

The R26 and a Berlin launch

The team name, Audi Revolut F1 Team, was announced in December 2025, and the car debuted in Berlin on January 20, 2026. Production was based in Hinwil, Neuburg an der Donau in Bavaria, and Bicester in England. James Key handled the technical work.

Embed from Getty Images

The first season

The team got off to a better start than many expected. Gabriel Bortoleto secured Audi’s first points with a ninth-place finish at the Australian Grand Prix. However, Nico Hulkenberg did not compete. Hulkenberg was hoping for his first points but had one of his worst moments at Barcelona. He was almost there when a rock from Liam Lawson’s car hit his fire-system switch, shutting the car down. Can you imagine anything worse? “Everything went well in the end,” he said after finally scoring points and finishing ninth at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Then, after 19 rounds in November 2026, the Audi was eighth with 27 points.

Embed from Getty Images

The road to 2030

Audi has stated its goal is to fight for the world championship in 2030. That’s a far cry from eighth, but four years in F1 is a long time, and the successor faces many challenges. Aston Martin launched a new partnership in 2026, which will make for a very busy year ahead. If you want to understand how long it takes to rebuild a team, look at how James Vowles rebuilt Williams, how Laurent Mekies reshaped Red Bull, or how Racing Bulls (Red Bull’s second team in history) grew from a small team like Minardi. Audi has the money these teams dream of. The question is, is that enough?

Questions about Audi in F1

01

How did Audi enter Formula 1?

Audi bought the Sauber team, taking full ownership in January 2025, and raced as a works team for the first time in 2026.

02

Who runs the Audi F1 team?

Mattia Binotto is CEO and team principal, with Allan McNish as racing director and James Key leading the technical side.

03

Who drives for Audi in 2026?

Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.

04

Where is the Audi F1 team based?

The chassis is built in Hinwil, Switzerland, the power unit in Neuburg an der Donau, Germany, and there is a technology center at Bicester in England.

05

How has Audi done in 2026?

As of November 2026, after 19 rounds, it is eighth in the constructors’ standings with 27 points, and its best result is eighth place.

06

Why did Jonathan Wheatley leave Audi?

He left in March 2026, after two races. Audi cited personal reasons, and he was widely reported to be heading to Aston Martin.

Annie is an automotive writer for GreenyCars. Years around Formula 1 paddocks during her marriage to a racing driver left her with strong opinions about drivers and team bosses, and she now writes about everything from Grand Prix racing to EVs and hybrids.