Audi F1 CEO warns to expect tough first few seasons
Jan.31 - Audi's Formula 1 boss has warned that the first couple of campaigns tackled by the Volkswagen-owned carmaker will be "tough".
Swiss-based Sauber, set to compete with the Alfa Romeo name for the last time this year, has a new title sponsor (Stake) and Group CEO in the form of Andreas Seidl for 2023.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi will be the 'team representative' at grands prix this season, and the Hinwil-based company has now confirmed the first phase of Audi's acquisition of the team.
Adam Baker: CEO of Audi Formula Racing GmbH and the project leader for Formula 1
Sauber said Audi has "acquired a minority stake", which Auto Motor und Sport speculates is an initial 25 percent ahead of an eventual 75pc takeover by 2026.
Current team owner Finn Rausing is expected to hang onto the final 25pc.
Until 2026, customer Ferrari engines will continue to power the cars, but the closer collaboration with Maranello looks set to ease down as Sauber gets closer to racing as Audi.
Audi intends to build its own engine in Neuburg an der Donau in Bavaria, with the program already headed up by former FIA safety director Adam Baker.
Audi reports that Baker, an Australian-born German, is developing "the technical, strategic, operational and financial concept" for the carmaker's 2026 foray.
"We have to be realistic," Audi Formula Racing CEO Adam Baker told Deutsche Presse-Agentur. "The first and second year will probably be tough."
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I would expect that Audi with their financial power and expertise would do anything but hit the ground running 🏃♀️
Anything else would be embarrassing
Power to their elbows
26 season onwards , is very reminiscent of the early thirties where Audi and Merc competed against each other for the Fatherland.
One thing I wasnt aware of is Ron D persuaded Honda to let there hybrid engines be used in the Mcl a year earlier than Honda had wanted to
Surely Audis Adam Baker knows its going to be tough, does he think its going to be a walk in the park, the top teams have been the top teams for yonks & it will be hard for Audi to mix it at the front for years. What's needed ;state of the art race car, cracking team & engineers who know the business & three cracking drivers and that's only the start, it's not always about the money for support it's about getting an "A" team.,, be prepared to ride at the back for five years. 😜