Audi acquires Sauber F1 team and appoints Seidl as CEO

Audi's appearance in Formula 1 from 2026 has been known for some time. The Sauber F1 team already partly belongs to Audi and is being taken over step by step. That was going to be a maximum of 75% in 2026, but the German brand wants to speed up the process and will take over 100% of the Sauber F1 team.

Audi makes an appearance in F1

Audi also reveals in the press release which individuals will become responsible for the F1 team. Oliver Hoffmann is appointed general representative by the Executive Board and will focus mainly on Audi AG. He also joins the Executive Board of the Sauber Group.

Andreas Seidl has been appointed as the CEO of the Audi F1 Team. He will therefore become the face of the Formula 1 team. What Alessandro Alunni Bravi's role will be is not clear. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner will head Audi's technical department.

"I thank Gernot Döllner and Oliver Hoffmann for their trust and am looking forward to leading Audi into Formula 1 together with a highly motivated team as CEO of the Audi F1 Team. We have a clear roadmap for how we want to become competitive in Hinwil as well as in Neuburg. We have ambitious goals. Realization of them is in progress and will be further accelerated through the complete takeover of Sauber by AUDI AG," Seidl stated.

Oliver Hoffmann: “I would like to thank the entire team at Technical Development for the great performance in recent years, and I am proud of the outstanding products resulting from our intensive work that we will bring to the streets in the coming months. Motorsport, particularly Formula 1, is my big passion. I am convinced that by bundling responsibilities and taking over 100 percent of Sauber Group, we will further accelerate our preparations for the launch in 2026."