F1
Audi partners with BP and Castrol, a bad omen for the future of the Renault engine?
©Audi
Audi has its first technical partner for its arrival in Formula 1. The firm with the rings announced this Monday that it had entered into a partnership with the oil company BP and its Castrol lubricant brand, with a view to the 2026 season and Audi's first steps in the premier category. An association announced as exclusive between the two parties.
We're delighted to announce we're the 1st official partner of the upcoming @AudiOfficial factory team in F1! Together with @bp_plc, we'll help to drive Audi's mission to combine cutting-edge technology & innovation to achieve maximum performance in the world of motorsport. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/Dn37L1Y7O5
— Castrol (@Castrol) July 15, 2024
BP will therefore supply a 100% sustainable fuel to power the new Audi engine, as stipulated in the technical regulations for 2026. A fuel which must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% compared to the classic gasoline, while Castrol will offer its range of Castrol EDGE lubricants intended for use in competition. By joining forces with Audi, the BP group also offers itself a commercial partnership with the German brand.
Audi and Castrol are no strangers to the world of motorsport, since a partnership already existed between the two parties in the 1980s, in WRC, with the formidable Audi Quattro in Group B. Castrol was also a partner of Audi in the world championships ofEndurance, rallycross, Formula E and DTM.
“Audi and BP have always successfully collaborated in the field of motorsport. We are delighted to be able to take this special partnership to the next level in Formula 1, rejoices Andreas Seidl, CEO of the Audi F1 Team. Audi is true to its motto 'Vorsprung durch Technik' (A step ahead thanks to technology, in French) and BP and Castrol also aspire to provide the best technologies in the field of fuels and lubricants. This is a perfect match. The fact that we were able to establish this partnership at such an early stage is a strong signal for the future factory team. We are aware of the attractiveness of the project and the number of renowned companies that want to work with Audi in Formula 1.”
BP with Audi… but what about Renault?
This new partnership announced as exclusive between Audi, BP and Castrol could also be a good clue regarding the future of the engine Renault, with whom BP currently works in F1. We know the department of Viruses-Châtillon threatened for several weeks, with rumors about a possible end of the engine program in 2026 and the transition to an engine Mercedes.
Rumors fueled by the recent arrival of Flavio Briatore in the organization chartAlpine, he who has never been a big fan of the French factory and the two-headed operation of the French team. Does the new partnership between Audi and BP mean the end of that between Renault and BP? And more broadly, the end of the engine program for 2026? Questions that should not remain unanswered for long.
ALSO READ > After rumors about the abandonment of the Renault engine in 2026, Alpine in the eye of the storm
Dorian Grangier
A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.
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Yves-Henri RANDIER
15/07/2024 at 07:24 a.m.
ELF (or rather TOTAL) the return with Alpine ? That being said, Renault Group and Mercedes are already collaborating at the industrial level, the entire Product Plan Alpine is based on 100% electric (with batteries or liquid hydrogen), therefore a Alpine with a Mercedes PowerUnit will hardly shock anyone when Aston Martin is today powered by Mercedes (with road Astons benefiting from Mercedes AMG engines) and tomorrow by Honda and McLaren is powered by a Mercedes unit (unlike its range road)! And that doesn't stop Aston Martin and McLaren from selling their sports cars
Eric Stevens
15/07/2024 at 12:18 a.m.
Renault made a good atmo engine but never knew how to take the turbo turn. a shame for the precursor of F1 technology! already in 2010 they were no longer up to par but the Red Bull chassis compensated. since 2014, the pretentious speeches have continued and the results have never followed. it is more than likely the next engine would not have been good. French pretension has its limits and we are starting to see the consequences outside the framework of F1! leaving with a Mercedes allows the enstone structure to survive, at least they are English! continuing with Renault would be suicidal for both structures, you have to know how to cut off your hand to save your arm. the arrival of the surname alpine, more than confidential, was already a sign. we couldn't be called renault mercedes! F1 is a magical world and the show is more interesting behind the scenes than on the track!
ING HOSE
15/07/2024 at 12:03 a.m.
how sad about the situation of the RENAULT group. A shame on its leaders (demeo & flavio) who have no ambition while all the big manufacturers are trying to come to F1, they are shooting themselves in the foot! Bravo to Audi, Ford, Toyota for their courage and competitive spirit. A big hello to our friends from "CR" (NIKI312, RENAULT 81, RENAULT 77, LULU79, LABEATBOULE, RAIKONEN, VROOM58, MATEO, CAPTUR..ETC) the real fans of the brand who must be very sad to see this; courage to them!!!!
LAURENT MOLINEAU
15/07/2024 at 11:56 a.m.
I am stunned when I read your various articles on a possible cessation of activity in the engine branch at Renault. It would be a monumental snub for this manufacturer and an assassination for French industry, in short a shame which would inevitably harm its business. For my part, if so, I would never again have the idea of driving Renault! What do you think ? Something to debate between enthusiasts...
ING HOSE
15/07/2024 at 12:10 a.m.
I follow you completely. What's crazier is to see all the manufacturers who are trying to come, and they already inside, are doing everything to sabotage themselves with no spirit of competition. In a B.FAMIN speech at Enstone, he said that without the RENAULT engine there would be no F1 project, and well, here we are. what a shame for its leaders. We must quickly put them out!
dedeHJ37
15/07/2024 at 03:40 a.m.
it is unfortunately like France, in complete disarray, the great loss and the great replacement, shame on all these scheming leaders imbued with their sad person