Status: 11/16/2021 5:35 p.m.
Is Audi aiming for Formula 1? Several media report a specific interest in the British racing team and sports car manufacturer McLaren. Tomorrow, the Audi supervisory board is apparently discussing the issue.
According to various media reports, the automaker Audi is showing interest in entering Formula 1. As the Reuters news agency reports, citing corporate circles, the Audi supervisory board intends to discuss the issue in its meeting tomorrow and, against this background, also cooperate with the British sports car manufacturer Check McLaren. An Audi spokeswoman said at the request of tagesschau.de the only thing is that “within the framework of strategic considerations, one always deals with ideas for cooperation”. In the near future, no further information from the official side is to be expected.
On Sunday, “Automobilwoche” reported that Audi was interested in McLaren and entered Formula 1. On Monday, the British auto magazine “Autocar” even reported that Audi McLaren had submitted an offer to buy and that an agreement had been reached. McLaren firmly rejected this representation. “McLaren’s technology strategy has always included ongoing discussion and collaboration with relevant partners and suppliers, including other automobile manufacturers, but the ownership structure of the McLaren Group has not changed,” it said. An Audi spokesman commented on the report by stating that no decision had been made.
Up until this year, Audi competed in Formula E as a works team.
Image: picture alliance / dpa
Audi boss already has experience in Formula 1
A possible entry of Audi into the premier class has been speculated for a long time. The fact that the current Audi boss Markus Duesmann was responsible for the technology of the Formula 1 teams during his time at BMW and Mercedes and is himself a big racing fan also contributes to this.
For the possible entry into Formula 1, McLaren could now be an option for Audi, reported the “Handelsblatt”, referring to corporate circles. The British racing team and sports car manufacturer is the most successful team in Formula 1 history after Ferrari. To this day, McLaren is also the only designer who has been victorious in both the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 mile and the Le Mans 24 Hours, which are probably the three most famous car races in the world.
For their part, racing teams like McLaren are also dependent on cooperation partners from the automotive industry. Because they bring the money with them to finance the development work, which is supplemented by the know-how of the racing teams. McLaren has already worked with Renault and Honda in the past, and since this season there has been a cooperation with Mercedes.
What the cooperation should look like is still unclear
There are several conceivable variants for a possible cooperation between Audi and McLaren. An insider told the Reuters news agency that it had to be clarified, among other things, whether Audi wanted to become a works team or the engine supplier for the McLaren racing team. The “Handelsblatt” in turn reported that Audi not only wanted to take over the racing team, but also the sports car brand.
In negotiations with McLaren, Audi boss Duesmann would meet old friends: the current McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl worked with Duesmann in the BMW Formula 1 team until 2009. Former VW top manager Michael Macht is currently at the helm at McLaren.
Formula 1 would be the ideal stage for Audi
The current speculations and developments must be seen against the background of the planned Formula 1 engine regulations, which will apply from 2026. Since Audi would like to stop the development of combustion engines from 2026 and switch completely to e-mobility, Formula 1 could become a helpful stage for the VW subsidiary. Because according to the planned rules, only hybrid drives and e-fuels will then be permitted.
In the past few years, Audi had already been involved in the Formula E electric car racing series as a works team. In late summer, however, the manufacturer ended its involvement there.