MOTORSPORT: Audi and Porsche to race in F1
Porsche set to join Red Bull in 2026 as Audi in talks with McLaren, Sauber, Aston Martin and WilliamsVolkswagen Group brands Porsche and Audi will both enter Formula 1, with the German auto giant's chief executive ending years of persistent rumours overnight.
According to VW chief Herbert Diess, entering the pinnacle of motorsport will make both Porsche and Audi more money than it will cost to compete.
Announcing the intention to finally challenge the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG, Diess admitted that the decision to race in F1 created divisions among both brands' board of directors.
But ultimately company detractors were won-over by the revelation that entering the top-flight race series should net more money than would be invested.
"You just run out of arguments [against it]," Diess said at an event in Wolfsburg.
There's still no details on each brand's F1 program, but Diess admitted that Porsche's preparations were more concrete than Audi's.
Rumours in the past have revealed how Audi has been reportedly ready to offer around €500 million ($A745m) for British supercar-maker and F1 race team McLaren.
Porsche, meanwhile, is tipped to have established a long-term partnership with Red Bull Racing.
As well as a money-making venture, Diess said that F1's high advertising impact was also one of the sport's attractions but admitted that to fund Porsche's Formula 1 entry it would reduce racing activities elsewhere.
No timescale has been given for when both brands will enter F1, although it's thought that Porsche could make its debut as soon as 2026.
As part of the arrangement, Porsche will take over Red Bull's engine division and create the next-gen power unit under the new 2026 F1 engine regulations.
The team is set to be renamed Red Bull-Porsche.
It's been rumoured Audi will come in as a complete team, following talks with McLaren, Sauber, Aston Martin and Williams.
Lowering the cost of entry in 2026 are regulation changes that simplify the 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid by removing the complex MGU-H part of the powertrain that recovers and redeploys energy from the turbo.
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