The CEO of Volkswagen confirms the arrival of his group in Formula 1
The CEO of the Volkswagen Group has announced that the Audi and Porsche brands will indeed participate in the Formula 1 World Championship from the 2026 season onwards.
In the history of Formula 1, the 2nd of May 2022 will be remembered as the date when the entry of the brands Audi and Porsche into Formula 1 was confirmed. It was through a live video on the Volkswagen Group’s YouTube channel that Herbert Diess, CEO of the group, announced the arrival of these two German brands in the pinnacle of motorsport starting from the 2026 season. This announcement brings an end to several months of speculation regarding the possible arrival of these two iconic brands in Formula 1.
The brand with the rings will make its debut in the championship. Multiple winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, officially entered in the Dakar rally since this year, the Ingolstadt company has never participated in a global single-seater competition. Its cousin from Stuttgart will, on the other hand, make a return to Formula 1. Engaged as a constructor in the 1960s and as an engine supplier in the 1980s, Porsche won three driver titles and two engine titles with McLaren between 1984 and 1986.
Diess justifies this commitment by the fact that Formula 1 is currently experiencing extremely positive development worldwide. If we consider all motorsports, only Formula 1 matters. This is where you leave the biggest impression. What is happening there in terms of marketing right now is incredible.
The arrival of the two brands from the group will therefore not happen before 2026. Diess explains this choice: « Numerous changes in engine regulations will be implemented in 2026. All teams will start from scratch. When the rules remain the same, you can gain a good second every season by optimizing a few details. As a newcomer, it would take us five to ten years to compete at the front. We don’t have time for that. »
The question remains as to how Audi and Porsche’s involvement in Formula 1 will unfold. Will they participate as constructors or as engine suppliers? Rumors suggest a potential collaboration between Porsche and Red Bull, and a partnership between Audi and another team on the grid. McLaren, Williams, Sauber, and Aston Martin are the names that frequently come up.
« Porsche is already a sports brand. Audi is not yet considered as such. On the other hand, for Audi, there is more to gain financially by joining Formula 1. With Porsche, there is more to gain in terms of sportsmanship. » concluded the CEO.
