‘Clear decision-making position’ as rumours of Audi’s withdrawal continue

Despite earlier rumors suggesting that Audi might withdraw from the Sauber takeover under Gernot Döllner’s leadership, recent reports indicate that the new CEO has given approval during a meeting in late November. Audi and Sauber had previously announced a deal, making Audi the Formula 1 team’s “strategic partner” with plans to take over the team in a works capacity in 2026.

Last year, Sauber confirmed the acquisition of a “minority stake” with more shares to follow, but the details became less clear afterward. Speculation arose that Döllner, known for expressing skepticism about the billion-dollar venture, might block the takeover. However, Manager Magazin now reports that Döllner addressed this during an Audi AG management conference at the end of November, emphasizing that Audi’s entry into Formula 1 in 2026 remains unchanged.

The report suggests that Döllner highlighted the value of the deal for Audi and firmly stated that withdrawing from the agreement was not an option. These comments came at the conclusion of Döllner’s ‘100-day confidentiality obligation’ concerning Audi’s operations and future plans.

Jürgen Rittersberger, Audi AG’s Board Member for Finance, Legal Affairs, and IT, reinforced this stance, stating that there is a clear decision on the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board to stick to the timetable for entry in 2026, with no alternative decision.

Despite the lack of recent public communication from Sauber and Audi regarding the takeover, Sauber’s representative, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, reassured the media that Audi remains strongly committed to Formula 1, emphasizing that this commitment stems from collective decisions made by the boards of Audi and the Supervisory Board of Audi Volkswagen.

Explaining the limited communication with the media, Bravi mentioned that as the Alfa Romeo F1 team, they have constraints on discussing team matters and future involvement until the end of the year, respecting Alfa Romeo’s guidelines. He emphasized that the commitment from Audi is solid, and the team is actively working on developing the structure for the future.

Sauber is expected to bridge the gap between Alfa Romeo and Audi with a two-year stop-gap, during which they plan to announce their title sponsor for the 2024 and 2025 seasons when the FIA reveals the entry list next year.