P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Audi will enter the sport in 2026 with its own power unit as it looks to become a competitive player in F1 over the coming years.
Audi’s COO and CTO, Mattia Binotto, provided a positive update on their upcoming power unit for the 2026 F1 season, where they will start as an engine manufacturer with their own team under the Sauber name. Binotto, known for his experience at Ferrari, is overseeing the project, with Jonathan Wheatley joining as team principal next year. Audi is one of six manufacturers for the new era, but there may be an initial gap in knowledge compared to established teams. Despite the learning curve, Binotto is confident in their progress and aims to be competitive by 2026. They are focusing on development and aiming to close any performance gap before their debut.
