Audi Secures Qatari Investment to Bolster Formula 1 Entry in 2026

The German automaker aims to transform Sauber into a competitive Formula 1 team with financial backing from Qatar and plans for a sustainable motorsport future.

Audi announced a significant minority investment from Qatar's sovereign wealth fund to support its Formula 1 ambitions.
The funding will accelerate Audi's infrastructure expansion and team development as it prepares for its debut as a works team in 2026.
Audi's entry will occur alongside a major Formula 1 rule change emphasizing sustainability, seen as a key opportunity for new teams to compete.
Nico Hülkenberg, the only German driver on the 2025 grid, will join Audi's team as it transitions from Sauber, currently the lowest-ranked team in the series.
Germany's Formula 1 presence has waned since the Schumacher era, with no home Grand Prix since 2020, but Audi's project is viewed as a potential revival for the sport in the country.