Adam Baker, CEO of Audi Formula 1 Racing, was yesterday in Madrid where the House of the Rings showed a single-seater concept, revealing some new details on the program of the German brand that is planning to debut in the GPs from 2026.
“It will be an excellent opportunity for Audi because in 2026 a new era will begin, with new engines and new chassis, in which efficiency will prevail and there will be the introduction of sustainable fuels. Not to mention that F1 is an excellent platform for marketing to show Audi’s great potential “.
Adam Baker, CEO Audi Formula Racing,
Photo by: Audi Communications Motorsport
Baker is a manager with a solid background (he started in Cosworth, then moved on to Jaguar, Minardi and BMW): the Australian with a German passport confirmed that in Audi they are already active on the power unit 2026 project, even if they do not yet know which chassis will house their engine.
“We are working on the engines. The times are correct, there are 130 people working on the project and we hope to reach around 300 soon and I can say that from 2023 we will work to the limit of the budget cap”.
At Audi they know the difficulty of the challenge, but they are aware that unlike other brands that have entered F1 in the middle of a regulatory cycle, they will be able to start on a par with the others, all having to start from scratch, so much so that the goal is ambitious…
“It is reasonable to think that it will take three years to reach the top, no matter how complicated the F1 challenge is, but we would like to win some podiums in the debut season.”
Audi Sport F1
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
It is an open secret that Audi joins Sauber…
“In principle, we will join an existing partner. We can’t talk about Sauber, but finding the right partner is key, because that’s what will ultimately enable us to be successful in the future.”
It is interesting that, despite being urged, Baker did not miss the opportunity to talk about pilots …
“We will follow the market that develops in view of 2026, so it is too early to think in terms of the lineup of drivers or testers. There is time…”.
The Spaniards then tried to probe the name of Carlos Sainz and Baker did not hide that it would be a great option: “It would be great to have Sainz, but 2026 is a long way off. The whole development phase of a new project is very important. and having an experienced driver will be essential. “
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