Audi has insisted that Renault’s choice to depart Formula 1 as a power unit manufacturer will not have an impact on the group’s “long-term commitment” to the sport.
Alpine announced the news last week that Renault will cease production on developing an engine for the all-new 2026 regulations as it will revert to a customer team.
But while the Anglo-French marque will disappear as a powertrain option on the grid, F1 will welcome Ford, in partnership with Red Bull, and Audi upon the rules reset.
READ MORE: Renault to cease work on F1 engine plans as Alpine prepares for customer switch
Audi CEO Gernot Dollner has stated that Renault’s impending withdrawal has had zero bearing on the German marque’s decision to head into F1 as a works operation.
Asked whether there had been internal discussions at Audi about pulling the plug on its nascent engine build, Dollner replied: “No, that was not part of the discussion.”
Audi is poised to endure an uphill task to hit the ground running in F1 as it combines a new engine build with a Sauber-ran squad which hasn’t accrued a point in 2024.
However, Dollner has stated that Audi’s commitment to F1 has remained unchanged as it prepares to complete a whole takeover of the Hinwil-based squad next term.
“Audi has a long-term commitment to Formula 1,” Dollner underlined.
“Earlier this year, the supervisory boards of AG and Audi took the decision to completely get control of the Sauber shares.
“And so we will be as of 1st January 2025 100 per cent in charge of Sauber.
“In 2025 that will happen, and myself being now chairman of Sauber, of the board of directors of Sauber Motorsport, means that I also will personally involve myself into our Formula 1 project more intensively.”
Dollner pleased with Audi F1 changes
Dollner has pointed to Mattia Binotto’s appointment as Sauber COO and Red Bull’s Jonathan Wheatley being hired to head the team as evidence of Audi’s dedication.
“We started at the end of July to realign our management structure with clear responsibilities,” he continued.
“I’m really happy that we found a strong, strong management for our Formula 1 project, with Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley.
“With a strong dual leadership team, one taking care of the operations on corporate with a project with a car.
“And the other one handling our operations on the racetrack and being the spokesperson, we believe that we found a perfect solution for our future operations.”
Audi developing own F1 engine is ‘key element’
Binotto, who has admitted that the existing power unit marques will hold an advantage, implied that it was a non-negotiable matter that Audi produced its own engine.
“It’s a huge task, but I think for Audi, it’s one of the most important ones, because being branded by our own power unit, that’s a key element of the project,” he stated.
“It’s a key element of our objectives, being not only a chassis winning a championship in Formula 1, but being a full manufacturer, chassis and power unit manufacturer.
“But we know that the task is huge. It’s a big investment.
“But, I think we’ve got the good people. I think there is all we need to do well and the full support. It will be down to us to earn the trust of the leaders.”
READ MORE: Mattia Binotto: Audi will have a ‘gap to recover’ with F1 engine
