German carmaker Audi has been linked with joining the Formula 1 grid on several occasions and every time a new rumour is spread, it’s quickly denied.
This week’s rumour is no different according to Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who denied a report in the German media that he’s looking to sell his team to Audi.
Auto Motor und Sport claims former-Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali was tasked with undertaking an analyse of whether it would make sense for Audi to join the sport.
His findings were reportedly positive, but Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piëch – who is known to dislike Bernie Ecclestone – refused to give the go ahead.
Whilst that might hold some truth, Mateschitz has denied the claim that part of Audi’s plan was to purchase the Red Bull team which, according to the report, is up for sale for £220 million ($340m, €300m) because the Red Bull empire is looking to scale back as a team in order to invest in owning the sport itself.
“I don’t know anything about it,” the Austrian billionaire told Speed Week. “As far as I know, we are having no such ‘clearance sale’.”
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