Audi completes full acquisition of Sauber for 2026 F1 foray

Originally set to conclude in 2025 with a 75% stake, the deal has been expedited, with Audi achieving 100% ownership of Sauber as of January 1, 2025. This acquisition strengthens the Ingolstadt-based company’s commitment to the sport as it prepares for its inaugural campaign under the Audi name.

In a report by Auto Motor und Sport, Audi confirmed: “The full acquisition of Sauber Holding AG by Audi AG was completed as planned in January 2025, which means that Audi has taken another important step towards Formula 1.”

The transaction, valued at €600 million, is seen as a strategic coup for Audi, given current F1 team valuations exceeding €1 billion.

Last November, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) acquired a 30% minority stake in Sauber, with Audi retaining the remaining 70% ownership. This partnership provides a robust financial foundation as Audi builds towards its Formula 1 debut.

The 2026 Formula 1 season will usher in a new era for Audi, coinciding with F1’s next set of technical regulations. The team will officially compete as Audi in 2026, but 2025 will serve as a transitional year, with the outfit operating under the name Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber.

Key appointments for this new chapter have already been made. Mattia Binotto, the former Ferrari team principal, has been named project manager for Audi’s F1 programme, while Jonathan Wheatley, previously with Red Bull, will take over as team principal starting April 1. Wheatley’s move marks an early conclusion to his tenure with Red Bull, originally set to end later in 2025.

“When I came in there was not only zero points, but really even no plans nor developments,” Binotto told Autosport. “And that’s what concerned me the most.

“Everything was only focused on 2026, but that was for me somehow a problem because I think that a team needs always to fight on track. It’s only by fighting, competing on track, that you can understand how good you’re doing and if whatever you’re doing is going the right direction."

“You need to understand performance. You need to understand weaknesses and strengths, and you need as well to address them. And that’s the real know-how of a team. When I joined in August, really, it was like a team that was almost frozen," revealed Binotto.

On the technical front, Audi’s power units will be developed at their state-of-the-art facility in Neuburg, Germany, supported by a partnership with Castrol for fuel supply.

With a solid organisational structure and significant financial investment, Audi has set its sights on becoming a leading force in Formula 1. The team is positioning itself to capitalise on the sport’s new regulatory landscape in 2026, aiming to establish a competitive presence from the outset.

As Audi prepares to embrace the challenges of Formula 1, the acquisition of Sauber marks a pivotal step in the company’s quest to make a lasting impact on the grid.