ooooIYKYK, ISSUE #oo24
The hard truth of Formula 1 from an Audi perspective is that it comes at a cost—and it’s hard. Audi shelved its return to Le Mans, canceled the Dakar program, and wound down DTM plus GT3, GT4, GT2 and TCR customer racing efforts in order to make F1 happen. Fans devoted to those other series weren’t exactly thrilled, and the wait for Audi’s arrival in Formula 1—not until 2026—felt like forever.
That F1 display car in Audi livery you may recall seeing? That dates back to 2022. It’s been a long stretch since then, but the wait is nearly over, and we’re about to see just how serious Audi is about taking on what is arguably the most competitive and prestigious motorsport series in the world.
Historically, Audi doesn’t enter a racing discipline to lose. When they compete, it’s to win—or they move on. World Rally? Conquered, with two manufacturers’ titles and a legacy that cemented the quattro name. Trans-Am? One and done. IMSA GTO? Same story. DTM? Twelve drivers’ titles, eight team titles, six manufacturers’ crowns, four silver rings, and a partridge in a pear tree. Touring cars? Championships everywhere, including a clean sweep in 1996 when the A4 quattro arrived. Le Mans? From zero wins to the second-most successful marque in record time—along with the most victorious driver (Tom Kristensen) and car design (the R8 LMP) in history. FIA WEC, ALMS, Nürburgring, Daytona, IMSA—of course. Formula E? Championship secured. Dakar Rally? Also won… twice if you count Roland Gumpert’s Iltis effort.
Now comes Formula 1. Though the Audi-owned Sauber team had been considered a backmarker for some time, this year has marked a turning point. The team has recruited two talented drivers who will carry the Audi factory on their racing suits going forward. In Nico Hülkenberg, they have an experienced veteran who’s not only won Le Mans but also managed to put Sauber on the podium this season at Silverstone. In Gabriel Bortoleto, they have a rookie who has dominated nearly every series he’s entered and already earned the respect of peers like Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso, both vocal supporters.
Behind them stands a team that’s been quietly sharpening its edge—delivering strong strategy calls, lightning-fast pit stops, and aerodynamic updates that have transformed the green C45 Sauber F1 car into a genuine midfield contender. Progress has been steady and visible. What was once a team fighting at the back now has legitimate pace to challenge the middle of the grid and sometimes push through for podium contention.
So, what happens next? No one knows for sure. The entire rulebook changes in 2026, with all-new cars built to an all-new formula. Audi has been testing its own power unit and will be the only team running that engine next year—a fact both daunting and thrilling.
Whatever the outcome, optimism feels justified. The four rings haven’t competed at this level of racing since the pre-war Auto Union Silver Arrows—designed by Ferdinand Porsche—stormed Grand Prix circuits like Monaco and rewrote motorsport history. Back then, they were dominant. History suggests those rings about to roll into F1 also shouldn’t be underestimated now.
Let’s see how this goes.
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