Audi, a victory machine arrives in F1

It's now official: Audi will enter the F1 grid by 2026. The manufacturer will not do it as its own team other than by joining forces with an already existing team, which could/should be Sauber. The announcement should be made by the end of 2022.

Upon arriving in the universe of Formula 1 hitherto unknown for the brand, Audi will be keen to become one of the benchmarks in the discipline. Although it will not become a team strictly speaking, the German firm nevertheless intends to experience the same success it has had in the past in Endurance, riding a rally and in various other disciplines where she was able to leave her mark.

Audi, victory in blood

Very far from the sphere of F1 since its creation, Audi nevertheless remains one of the benchmarks in motorsport. While diehard Formula 1 fans may not know it, the Ingolstadt-based firm has won virtually everywhere it has gone.

In Endurance, there is no need to recall that the brand with the rings was one of the references of 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 2000s, if not THE reference. Between 2000 and 2016 (year of the last participation in the Sarthe double clock), Audi won 13 times, including 8 with Team Joest, the most successful collaboration with a private team for the German team .

The Audi R8, victorious at Le Mans in 2000 © Pascal Rondeau / DPPI

Audi was the first victorious brand at Le Mans with a TDI diesel prototype © Jean-Michel Le Meur / DPPI

Audi's last victory at Le Mans, in 2014 (from left to right: André Lotterer, Benoît Tréluyer, Ullrich Wolfgang and Marcel Fassler) © Clément Marin / DPPI

Finally, those who were then led by the famous Doctor Ullrich only let 4 small editions escape in 17 participations between 2000 and 2016 returned to Bentley (2003), Peugeot (2009) et Porsche (2015 and 2016).

Audi, queen on the circuits… but also on the roads

There's more to motorsport than just circuits, and Audi understands that very well. Before making a name for itself in closed arenas, the Bavarian manufacturer proved itself on rally roads. Whether on asphalt, gravel or even snow, the famous Quattro allowed the Rings to triumph during the glorious Group B era.

Stig Blomqvist, world rally champion in 1984 in an Audi Quattro © DPPI

Amidst the battle between Peugeot and Lancia in the 1980s, Audi managed to make a name for itself by WRC. Well helped by its Nordic drivers like the Swede Stig Blomqvist or the Finn Hannu Mikkola, the brand from across the Rhine reached the summits of Rallying by bagging no less than 4 titles, 2 among the Manufacturers (1982 and 1984). ) and 2 among the Drivers with Hannu Mikkola in 1983 and Stig Blomqvist the following year, also giving Audi the double.

Audi, a recent reign in GT

After rallying and Endurance, Audi has maintained its reputation as a winner across the GT categories, thanks to their supreme weapon: the Audi R8 LMS. Since the 2000s, the brand with the four rings has had multiple successes in Grand Touring championships and, above all, an impressive track record in major races.

In a decade, between 2011 and 2022, Audi won 4 victories at the 24 Hours of Spa (2011, 2012, 2014 and 2017) and 6 victories at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring (2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022 ).

Audi's fourth victory at the 24 Hours of Spa, in 2017 © Marc de Mattia / DPPI

If Audi has never taken the step of participating in Le Mans in the GTE category, the German firm has had success in all the GT3 competitions in which it has participated (GT World, FIA GT, etc.).

Audi, a great track record in DTM

In the pure tradition of German sports brands, Audi also has a beautiful trophy cabinet in the category DTM. If success took a few years to arrive, with a first manufacturer's title in 2004 (i.e. 4 years after the rebirth of the German championship), the Bavarian firm mainly built up its track record in the 2010 decade. Since 2011, Audi has been 6 times titled among manufacturers (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020).

René Rast has become an icon of the Audi brand with his multiple DTM championships © Clement Luck / DPPI

In DTM, Audi also revealed some Grand Touring champions. For 20 years, 6 drivers have been crowned in the German championship: Laurent Aiello (2002) with the Audi TT-R, then Mattias Ekström (2004 and 2007), Timo Scheider (2008) and 2009) and Martin Tomczyk (2011) with the Audi A4 and finally Mike Rockenfeller (2013) and René Rast (2017, 2019 and 2020) with the Audi RS5. In total: 10 drivers' titles and 8 manufacturers' titles in less than 20 years. A nice score…

Audi, electrifying in Formula E

If Audi's arrival in Formula 1 will be unprecedented, the brand with the rings already has experience in car. The Ingolstadt firm took part in the championship of Formula E between 2015 and 2021 with a view to the electrification of the brand in motorsport. Once again, the Inglostadt manufacturer's visit was crowned with success. Led by Lucas di Grassi, Audi won the drivers' and constructors' championships in 2018. 

Audi was also crowned in Formula E, during the 2018 season with di Grassi © Gregory Lenormand / DPPI

With a glorious past, Audi does not arrive in Formula 1 by chance. After having suffered the setback of the takeover of McLaren, the brand with the Rings wishes to be one of the major forces on the grid with a collaboration initially which should take place with Sauber before perhaps becoming a full-fledged team in the future...

Gonzalo Forbes with Dorian Grangier