Audi sells part of its F1 team to a Qatari investment fund

Audi has sold a significant minority stake in its Formula 1 team to the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), estimated at around 30% according to Sky News.

Sauber will be renamed Audi from the 2026 season, when the German manufacturer officially enters as a factory team.

The agreement was officially announced on Friday, just before the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend. Gernot Döllner, CEO of Audi AG and chairman of the board of Sauber Motorsport AG, was seen in the Losail paddock before the announcement.

This investment, the exact amount of which remains confidential, aims to accelerate the development of infrastructure and the future team, which will succeed Sauber. « QIA’s investment reflects the confidence that the Audi F1 project has already generated, underlining Audi’s unwavering commitment to this initiative », said Gernot Döllner.

« This additional capital will accelerate the growth of the team and represents a significant step in our long-term strategy. QIA’s involvement further energizes the efforts deployed in the Hinwil and Neuburg facilities for Audi’s entry in 2026.

On his part, Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, CEO of Qatar Investment Authority, added: “Audi is a premium partner of choice with a rich heritage in motorsport. As a long-term investor in the Volkswagen Group, we believe in Audi’s vision in Formula 1, and our investment will contribute to achieving this goal. QIA believes that Formula 1 is a sport with significant untapped investment potential. The increasing commercialization of professional sports as a global entertainment offering, as well as the growing popularity of Formula 1, create an exciting opportunity for our first major investment in motorsport.”

In 2025, Sauber will field a new pair of drivers composed of Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, the current leader of the Formula 2 championship.