Audi will soon confirm its entry into Formula 1! When will the German carmaker join F1?

The entry of a new car company, a new engine manufacturer. Audi is set to officially confirm its entry into Formula 1 very soon, which it is expected to be a part of from 2026. However, it’s not the only famous brand to have considered entering F1 in the past…

Based on the latest information, Audi intends to confirm its intention to enter the world of Formula 1 sometime early next year.

Audi chairman Markus Duesmann and Audi board member for technical development Oliver Hoffmann said the manufacturer is pleased with the progress the FIA has made with the new technical regulations for power units for 2026.

F1 is currently looking for a new manufacturer itself following the departure of Honda. What is certain is that the three main manufacturers – Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault – will still be part of Formula 1 in 2026.

Well, according to the latest reports, Audi and last but not least Red Bull Powertrains are expected to join this trio. So it is very real that we will see five manufacturers in the queen of motorsport.

The sixth could be Porsche, another member of the Volkswagen Group. Despite Audi, however, this brand is still more of an idea. It is Audi that is very close to signing a contract at the moment and F1 can almost count on them.

A few days ago, Duesmann and Hoffmann sent a letter to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and outgoing FIA president Jean Todt saying that the draft regulations offer a fair compromise for newcomers and existing competitors, as well as meeting the targets agreed for new power units.

Now all that remains is for Audi’s board of management and supervisory board to formally approve the carmaker’s entry into Formula 1. However, let’s expect that this will not be a problem and will be a formality.

But what kind of regulations are we talking about? The World Motorsport Council confirmed last week that the powertrains for 2026 will retain the existing 1.6-litre V6 engines and increase the amount of electricity they can generate, while ditching the expensive MGU-H.

This entails a significant reduction in costs and the introduction of budget caps on powertrains. Formula 1 is also slowly starting to focus on full electricity utilisation and sustainability.

Sources: F1, RaceFans, Twitter