Remember all the years of rumours that VW would be joining F1? They’re finally official. Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess revealed that Audi and Porsche will join Formula 1 in 2026. Diess shared the news in a live stream titled “Dialog with Diess” on the official Volkswagen Group page on YouTube.
According to Diess, regulation changes, announced for the sport last month, will allow sufficient time for both Porsche and Audi to begin development. In other words, 2026 is the perfect opportunity for the brand to enter Formula 1.
“Game-changer”
Regulation changes will permit Porsche and Audi to get involved at a competitive level. Soon all competitors will be required to power their Formula 1 cars using synthetic fuel. It’s what Diess calls a “technology window”.
Diess said in the live stream that the full development of such an engine would take three to four years, enough time for the Volkswagen Group to create their own version. “We assume that in ’26, ’28, it will still be the biggest motorsport spectacle in the world, even more so than today. More in China, more in the USA than today, and this is also the largest marketing platform for premium vehicles,” he added.
According to the most recent rumours, Porsche may collaborate with Red Bull, which previously worked with Honda. Little else is known about what form Audi and Porsche F1 participation will take. It’s possible that the brand will just make engines for vehicles, or it might field an entire team. Nothing is certain just yet, and probably won’t be until VW’s engine development has at least started.
Source: Ars Technica