P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Audi has insisted that Renault’s choice to depart Formula 1 will not have an impact on the group’s “long-term commitment” to the sport.
Last week, Alpine announced that Renault will stop developing an engine for the 2026 regulations and will instead supply a customer team. Red Bull will partner with Ford and Audi when the new rules come into effect. Audi CEO Gernot Dollner clarified that Renault’s decision did not influence Audi’s choice to enter F1 as a works team. Despite the challenging task of joining F1 with an engine build and partnering with Sauber without any points in 2024, Audi remains committed to the sport and plans to take control of Sauber by 2025. Dollner emphasized the dedication to the project, citing the appointment of Mattia Binotto as Sauber COO and Jonathan Wheatley from Red Bull as team head as indicators of Audi’s serious approach. Binotto stressed the importance of Audi developing its own engine as a fundamental aspect of their F1 project, acknowledging the significant investment required but expressing confidence in their team’s capabilities and commitment to earning success.
