Jordan's Track Talk

Category: 2026

  • Audi & Sauber to join forces in 2026

    Audi have reached an agreement with Sauber to make the Swiss Formula 1 operation their works team from 2026.

    The German manufacturer announced in August that they will be joining F1 as a power unite supplier, when new regulations that feature increased electrical power and 100% sustainable fuels will be introduced in four years time.

    Ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend, Audi said Sauber – who are currently running under the Alfa Romeo banner – will become their “strategic partner” for their F1 programme and that the automotive company plans to acquire a stake in the Sauber Group.

    Audi will create their power unit at their base in Neuburg in Germany where already more than 120 people are working on the project – while Sauber will develop and manufacture their race car at their headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland. Sauber will also be responsible for planning and executing the race operations.

    Ahead of Audi’s arrival, Alfa Romeo will end their title sponsorship of Sauber a the end of the 2023 campaign. The Swiss team will continue to use Ferrari power units through to the end of 2025, before taking on Audi power for the following campaign.

    Audi who are apart of the Volkswagen Group – say expansion of their Neuburg facility in terms of personnel, buildings and technical infrastructure should “be largely in place for 2023”. They intend to do their first tests of the 2026 power unit in an F1 test car in 2025.

    We are delighted to have gained such an experienced and competent partner for our ambitious Formula 1 project. We already know the Sauber Group with its state-of-the-art facility and experienced team from previous collaborations and are convinced that together we will form a strong team.

    Oliver Hoffmann, Audi AG Board Member.

    The partnership between Audi AG and Sauber Motorsport is a key step for our team as we continue to make progress towards the front of the grid. To become Audi’s official works team is not only an honour and a great responsibility: it’s the best option for the future and we are fully confident we can help Audi achieve the objectives they have set for their journey in Formula 1.

    Sauber Motorsport CEO and Team Principal, Fred Vasseur.

    It is great news to hear that Audi will have a partnership with Sauber for their entry into Formula 1 in 2026. The combination of those two names is a very exciting prospect for our sport. It highlights the strong momentum that Formula 1 has and the belief in our strategy to further grow and enhance the sport while delivering on our sustainability plans to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030 with advanced sustainable fuels in the cars in 2026. We look forward to seeing their progress over the coming years and the car on the grid for the team’s first race.

    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of F1.

  • Audi to join F1 in 2026

    German manufacturer, Audi will be joining the Formula 1 World Championship from the 2026 season as a power unit supplier.

    The announcement comes after new power unit regulations, designed specifically to make it possible and attractive for newcomers to join the sport at a competitive level, were published earlier this month.

    The 2026 power units, will maintain the current V6 internal combustion engine architecture but they feature increased electrical power and 100% sustainable fuels, which are the two factors Audi say were key to joining the sport.

    Audi – who are part of the Volkswagen Group – added that it also supports F1’s future plans to be more sustainable and cost efficient, with a cost cap for power unit manufacturers introduced in 2023 as well as F1 setting a target of being Net Zero Carbon by 2030.

    Audi Sport’s facility in Neuburg will be where the power unit is developed, marking the first time in more than a decade that F1 powertrain will be built in Germany.

    Audi say there are already test benches for F1 engine testing as well as for electric motor and batter testing in their Neuburg base. They are now currently working on getting personnel, buildings and technical infrastructure in place by the end of the year.

    Adam Baker, who has held several senior positions for manufacturers and teams in motorsport whilst also spending three years with the FIA, he will now run the Formula 1 project as CEO.

    I am delighted to welcome Audi to Formula 1, an iconic automotive brand, pioneer and technological innovator. This is a major moment for our sport that highlights the huge strength we have as a global platform that continues to grow. It is also a big recognition that our move to sustainably fuelled hybrid engines in 2026 is a future solution for the automotive sector. We are all looking forward to seeing the Audi logo on the grid and will be hearing further details from them on their plans in due course.

    F1 President and CEO, Stefano Domenicali.

    Motorsport is an integral part of Audi’s DNA. Formula 1 is both a global stage for our brand and a highly challenging development laboratory. The combination of high performance and competition is always a driver of innovation and technology transfer in our industry. With the new rules, now is the right time for us to get involved. After all, Formula 1 and Audi both pursue clear sustainability goals.

    Markus Duesmann, Chairman of Board of Management of Audi AG.

  • FIA approve PU regulations for 2026

    The FIA World Motorsport Council has approved power unit regulations set to come into effect for the 2026 season with increased electrical power and 100% sustainable fuels two of the key aspects of the newly-approved rules.

    The 2026 power units will maintain the current V6 internal combustion engine architecture, with the FIA setting out four key pillars of the new regulations, which are:

    • Maintaining the spectacle – the 2026 power unit will have similar performance to current designs, utilising high-power, high-revving V6 internal combustion engines and avoiding excessive performance differentiation to allow for improved raceability.
    • Environmental sustainability – the power unit will include an increase in the development of electrical power to up to 50% and utilise a 100% sustainable fuel.
    • Financial sustainability – financial regulations regarding the power units will reduce the overall costs for competitors whilst retaining the cutting edge technological of Formula 1.
    • Attractive to new power unit manufacturers – the new regulations are intended to make it possible and attractive for newcomers to join the sport at a competitive level.

    The regulations will see the current Motor Generator Unit Heat or MGU-H element removed whilst the power output on the power units’ Energy Recovery Systems will be increased to 350 kilowatts.

    The FIA continues to push forward on innovation and sustainability – across our entire motor sport portfolio – the 2026 Formula 1 Power Unit Regulations are the most high-profile example of that mission. The introduction of advanced PU technology along with synthetic sustainable fuels aligns with our objective of delivering benefits for road car users and meeting our objective of net zero carbon by 2030. Formula 1 is currently enjoying immense growth and we are confident these regulations will build on the excitement our 2022 changes have produced. I want to thank all of the FIA management and technical staff involved in this process for their diligence and commitment in working together with all of our Formula 1 stakeholders to deliver this. I also want to thank our WMSC members for their consideration and approval of these regulations.

    FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

    2022 & 2023 porpoising and roll hoop regulations approved-

    The WMSC also approved changes to the 2022 and 2023 Technical Regulations, designed to address both the issue of aerodynamic porpoising and of safety standards for roll hoops.

    With regards to porpoising, it has now been approved that from this months Belgian Grand Prix until the end of the season, there will be changes to re-define the stiffness requirements of the plank and skids around the thickness measurement holes on the cars.

    From 2023, meanwhile the following changes will be made:

    • The floor edges will be raised by 15mm
    • The diffuser throat height will be raised
    • The diffuser edge stiffness will be increased
    • An additional sensor will be mandated to monitor the porpoising phenomenon more effectively.

    Additionally, follow Zhou Guanyu’s crash at the 2022 British Grand Prix, the following changes surrounding safety standards for the roll hoops on F1 cars were also approved to become of the 2023 Technical Regulations:

    • A rounded top will now be required on the roll hoop, which will reduce the chance of it digging into the ground during an incident.
    • A change will be made to ensure a minimum height for the point of application of the homologation test.
    • There will be a new physical homologation test where the load pushes the roll hoop in the forward direction.
    • There will be a definition of new tests, to be carried out by calculation.