Report: Audi & Porsche Likely to Discuss F1 Entry By the End of February 2021

Ever since Formula One began discussing the changes that the sport could witness following the 2025 season, the Volkswagen Group has been one of the automotive companies that have shown abundant interest in joining the F1 grid as a complete factory outfit or even as a mere works team.

The German manufacturers, for a while, hunted for ways to get their brand into F1 by buying into one of the existing teams, including Haas and McLaren. While Haas have always been reluctant to give up on their F1 dream, McLaren, on the other hand, managed to revive their financial prowess through one of their partners.

Hence, with the hopes of joining the grid prior to the 2025 season looking almost impossible, Volkswagen are very likely to decide on whether they are willing to wait it out and begin their F1 journey from 2026, the year which is set to welcome a new engine era.

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Are Audi joining the F1 grid?

According to Reuters, Audi, led by the Volkswagen Group, are likely to discuss their F1 entry by the end of February 2022 during the supervisory council meeting.

However, the spokesperson clarified that the final decision will not be made until later this year. While this is a rumor that mostly circles around Audi, another rumor also includes the other Volkswagen Group subsidiary, Porsche.

German newspaper F.A.Z. apparently reported that the discussion will not only stick to Audi but also Porsche, as Volkswagen are keen on bringing in both of their performance brands into the top-tier motorsport series.

While Volkswagen declined to comment on the matter, a Porsche spokesperson admitted that the company is evaluating the scenario of bringing the luxurious brand into F1.

Back in 2021, reports claimed that their decision would entirely depend on F1’s synthetic fuel target by 2026. Hence, if F1 does affirm that the sport would use 100% synthetic fuel by the start of the new engine era, it is highly likely that both Porsche and Audi will find themselves contending against other big competitors like Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull.

So, let’s hear it from you – How is the potential arrival of Porsche and Audi going to change the future of Formula One?

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