The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has purchased a significant minority stake in Sauber Holding AG, buying into the Audi takeover ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Audi had laid plans to complete a 100% takeover of Sauber as it ramps up to deliver its works entry to the F1 grid in time for the 2026 campaign.
The Sauber project is currently rooted to the bottom of the F1 Constructors’ standings and significant investment is needed to make it worthy of a renowned brand like Audi.
The QIA, which is already the third largest shareholder of Audi’s parent company Volkswagen Group, with a 17% stake, is reportedly spending hundreds of millions of dollars to acquire an alleged 30% of the Audi F1 project.
Such deals are not uncommon, with the Mercedes works team shared via three entities: the German marque, Ineos and CEO/Team Principal Toto Wolff.
“The investment by QIA reflects the trust and confidence the Audi F1 Project has already garnered, underscoring unwavering commitment of Audi to the initiative,” said Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sauber Motorsport AG.
“This additional capital will accelerate the team’s growth and is yet another milestone on our long-term strategy.
“QIA’s involvement further energizes the dedicated efforts at both the Hinwil and Neuburg facilities as they work towards the entry of Audi in 2026.”
QIA relishing ‘exciting opportunity’ with Audi F1 project
For the QIA, buying into the Audi F1 venture represents a “first major motorsports investment.”
The entity is buying into the sport at the right time, with commercial growth soaring and all 10 teams reaping the rewards of values north of $1 billion.
Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA said “Audi is a premium partner of choice with a rich motorsport legacy.
“As a long-standing investor in the Volkswagen Group, we believe in Audi’s vision and direction when entering Formula 1 and our investment will support the realization of this goal.
“QIA believes that Formula 1 is a sport with significant untapped investment potential.
“The increasing commercialization of professional sports as an entertainment offering globally, and the increasingly global popularity of Formula 1, has made for an exciting opportunity for our first major motorsports investment.”
For Audi, the investment from QIA helps lighten the burden of developing an F1 entry, especially since plenty of the architects behind the project have left the German marque.
Former CEO Markus Duesmann and board member Oliver Hoffmann were largely responsible for pushing the German brand towards Grand Prix racing but left Audi in the summers of 2023 and ’24 respectively.
Beyond this, a financial crisis is rearing its ugly head at the Volkswagen Group, so generating outside investment for the Audi F1 project was likely a top priority for CEO Döllner.
Moreover, should Audi wish to cut ties with F1in the future, it has a buyer ready and waiting for a full takeover.
READ MORE – Audi receives cost cap boost for 2026 F1 entry
