Qatar Investment Authority acquire substantial minority share in future Audi team

Ahead of its entry as works outfit, Audi has announced that the Qatar Investment Authority has acquired substantial minority share in its future Formula One team.

Audi has already acquired Hinwil-based Sauber F1 outfit, but it will officially enter Formula 1 with a factory team with the change of the technical regulations in 2026.

Ahead of this Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix, Audi has confirmed that QIA, the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, has signed definitive agreements to acquire a significant minority stake in Sauber Holding AG that will become Audi’s future factory team.

The German marque explained that QIA’s investment will provide a substantial capital injection and pave the way for increasing infrastructure.,

Reflecting on the new partnership, Audi’s CEO Gernot Döllner commented: “The investment by QIA reflects the trust and confidence the Audi F1 Project has already garnered, underscoring unwavering commitment of Audi to the initiative.

“This additional capital will accelerate the team’s growth and is yet another milestone on our long-term strategy. QIA’s involvement further energizes the dedicated efforts at both the Hinwil and Neuburg facilities as they work towards the entry of Audi in 2026.”

Commenting on the agreement, CEO of QIA Mohammed Al-Sowaid added: “Audi is a premium partner of choice with a rich motorsport legacy. As a long-standing investor in the Volkswagen Group, we believe in Audi’s vision and direction when entering Formula 1 and our investment will support the realization of this goal.

“QIA believes that Formula 1 is a sport with significant untapped investment potential. The increasing commercialization of professional sports as an entertainment offering globally, and the increasingly global popularity of Formula 1, has made for an exciting opportunity for our first major motorsports investment,” he concluded.

In addition, Audi has offered an update on how its facilities in Neuburg and Hinwil are shaping up, claiming that both facilities “are further ramping up to meet the standards needed on the road to success.”

The German marque has recently announced Gabriel Bortoleto as its second driver, with the Brazilian set to race alongside Nico Hülkenberg . Audi’s future works outfit has gone through key changes over the past months, with Ferrari’s former team boss Mattia Binotto having been announced as CTO and COO while Red Bull’s former sporting director Jonathan Wheatley having been confirmed as team principal from the middle of next year.