Audi is reportedly mulling the idea of entering Formula 1, and it’s no mere passing thought by the sound of it. The BBC says that the Volkswagen Group is conducting a feasibility study on whether Audi should enter F1. The study is being conducted by Stefano Domenicali, the former Ferrari team boss who joined Audi in November.
The BBC report added that Audi would join F1 with its own team, based in Germany. Other reports say that the company’s entry into the sport – to challenge successful rival Mercedes-Benz – could happen in 2016 or 2017.
If the move turns out to be real, then it’s definitely a change of tune. Back in 2011, it was reported that Audi had very little time for Formula 1, that the series just wasn’t up its alley with regards to relevance.
At the time, Audi’s motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich said that the automaker felt that something like Le Mans was a more pertinent arena for manufacturers to obtain all the necessary. “There’s a very good reason why we are not in F1. There’s no relevance to the road,” Ullrich was quoted then.
“Audi has always been engaged in motorsport that’s relevant to our customers such as rallying and touring cars, which brought quattro, FSI and TFSI to our road cars. This is why in 1999, we decided against F1. Instead, we decided to take on the greatest race in the world. We went for Le Mans,” Ullrich had said.
Last month, Ullrich again played down speculation about a possible F1 entry, telling reporters that “there is no decision that we are going in that direction.” For the latest round, Audi have dismissed the reports as “rumours” and have issued no further comment on the matter.
Back in 2012, Volkswagen was also reported to be considering joining F1, with the first step for VW in the premier four-wheel racing series being as an engine supplier.
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Will Jason Statham drive for Audi?
No Audi, you can’t use Quattro here…
Perhaps, the top brass at Audi is getting tired at Le Mans racing and start thinking seriously why not they join F1 racing? The current f1 engine regs is also more relevant for road cars. And the return of the famous (or is it infamous?) Auto Union badge to Grand Prix racing is also tempting for the sport.
I think it’s has more to do with porsche comming into Le Mans
In-house competition – it could be one of the reasons.But obviously to the spectators, it’s very much welcomed since it will add up to the no of manufacturers in the top Sports Prototype class, something that seriously lacking in WEC/Le Mans for the last 15 years or so. Maybe Audi should just stay in WEC/Le Mans. Who knows maybe Jaguar & Peugeot could return and make the WEC series more exciting.
Which one they gonna use at the end of the day?
… Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Scania? or MAN?…
Lamborghini & Porsche names have been in F1 before..
I donot know… Other reports say its VW whos interested in f1…meaning using vw name as almost all other sub brand of vw is involved in some sort of motor racing….
At current rules n regulations, i doubt anyone will join f1…they r waiting for better rules for manufacturers to compete thn see interest rise again…
LeMans is more relevant.. It is much more interesting to see how different teams showcasing different technology and compete each other.. LeMans encourage teams to explore different technology and needed to last for 24 hours to test reliability..
Audi TDI e-tron, Toyota Hybrid, Porsche flat 4 2L turbo using exhaust wastegate to generate electric power.. you dont see such variety in F1..
Imho.. F1 rules are too rigid, n less options to explore new technologies by each team.. F1 is more of a publicity platform for brands and its getting more boring these days..
Ideally, the current F1 engine regs. should allow some degree of freedom on the engine configuration. In the 1985 & 1986 turbo F1 era, there were 4,6 & 8 cylinders turbocharged engines..
A diesel F1 car anyone?
1st serious
then very serious
then very very serious
then very the very the serious
Aiyaa, just cut the BS just join in already …
s-tronic f1?
If Audi enter F1 circus, there’s lot work need to be done by study, research and develop complete new racing cars, they really need the BIG capital (money) to spend for 1 expensive series alone by scrapping DTM and WEC programme to save the budget. I do hope they won’t end up like Toyota fate who spend millions of pounds for winning less years ago.
F1 is supposed to be a freak show of cars, most extreme of racing and less relevance to the road and more of a jet fighter tech upside down. We dont need green in f1, we have lemans for that.
I seriously doubt Audi’s name will be featured in the F1 scene. But since VW owns so many brands, it could be those brands that we’ll see.
My best bet’s is Porsche.
Err….Porsche already committed in Le Mans and they just won a race in Brasil Autodromo GP.