In August of 2022, Audi made headlines with its announcement to enter Formula 1 as an engine supplier for the 2026 season. The move was seen as a major milestone for the German luxury automaker, which had been absent from the world’s premier motorsport competition for decades. Not long after, Audi reached an agreement with Swiss F1 team Sauber and later acquired a minority stake in the team, solidifying its commitment to the sport.
Now, with the 2023 Auto Shanghai event just around the corner, Audi is set to showcase a new F1 concept car as part of its plan to release more details about its F1 entry. The reveal was confirmed by an Audi spokesperson in an interview with Automotive News Europe. The spokesperson explained that China represents Audi’s largest market, making Auto Shanghai the perfect venue to unveil the new concept car. Additionally, the spokesperson noted that F1 has a significant following in China, and bringing the car to the event would be appreciated by fans, particularly after the multiple cancellations of the Chinese Grand Prix due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While 2026 may seem like a long way off, there have already been significant changes announced for the sport. F1 cars will soon run on completely synthetic fuel, as opposed to today when renewable ethanol accounts for only 10% of the total mix. The turbocharged V6 engines will continue to be used, but electric power will make up to 50% of the total output. These changes, along with reduced running costs, are aimed at attracting newcomers to the sport, such as Sauber/Audi and Red Bull/Ford.
Other automakers have also expressed interest in joining F1, including Porsche. However, negotiations with Red Bull fell through last year when Porsche’s proposed 50:50 deal was rejected. Despite this setback, Porsche has continued to express interest in joining the competition, but a recent report from The Race suggests that it may not happen in the medium term.
As for Audi, the Auto Shanghai event is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting journey into the world of Formula 1. Fans and enthusiasts alike will be eagerly awaiting further details about the company’s plans for the future of the sport.
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F1, F1 2023, Racing, Formula One, Audi, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen
