Porsche and Audi enter F1 in 2026 – Volkswagen CEO
Porsche and Audi have decided to enter Formula 1 in 2026, according to the CEO of the Volkswagen Group.
Last month, a meeting of the VW Group supervisory board ended without a final decision on whether Porsche and Audi would commit to an F1 project in 2026.
However, it has “confirmed plans” for both entries, subject to a successful final stage of its evaluation.
VW CEO Herbert Diess has now claimed that Porsche and Audi decided to get involved with VW’s support.
The two VW-owned brands have been linked with potential 2026 F1 entrants for months, the latest version of years of speculation over whether Porsche or Audi could join the grid.
On Monday, Diess said Formula 1’s emphasis on sustainability, growth in the United States and Asia and increasing popularity with younger viewers are reasons why it’s so appealing now.
Official confirmation may take some time, possibly at the Austrian Grand Prix in July to tie in with Red Bull’s home race – as Porsche will agree to work with Red Bull Powertrains for the new 2026 technical regulations.
With this, Porsche announces itself again after an absence of more than 30 years.
It last competed as an engine supplier with the disastrous Footwork project in 1991.
The first Audi entry into the history of the world championship has not yet been decided.
It’s understood to be more interested in a team and its own engine program based on an F1-spec V6 internal combustion engine that Porsche developed a number of years ago, but Diess said it has yet to find a team with which it can work.
Various teams including McLaren, Williams, Sauber and even Aston Martin have been associated with Audi.
To ease the double entry, Porsche and Audi may have to cut other major motorsport programs.
Audi had already retired from Formula E to focus on customer racing, its Dakar Rally electric project and returning to the premier class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans by working together in a Porsche-led community project.
However, Audi’s interest in Le Mans cooled months ago in what was understood to mean that resources were diverted to pre-development work for the F1 programme.
However, Porsche has not indicated that it intends to abandon its planned prototype return.
It also still races in Formula E and has signed up for the Gen3 era that begins next season, although it has only committed to the 2024 season.
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