Audi 'would fit in well' at Alfa Romeo team?
Apr.9 - Red Bull is making no secret of its desire to link up with Porsche in Formula 1.
On Thursday, Volkswagen's supervisory board finally approved F1 forays for both the Audi and Porsche brands to coincide with new engine regulations in 2026.
The news is contingent not only on the FIA's ratification of those new rules, but also the finalisation of contracts with Audi and Porsche's F1 team partners.
The real excitement is about which team will benefit from the rumoured EUR 1 billion spend that Audi is prepared to funnel into a Formula 1 project.
McLaren has dithered over a potential EUR 650 million deal, prompting new speculation of talks between Audi and the Alfa Romeo-Sauber and Aston Martin teams.
"No, I have absolutely no information about the discussion between the Sauber Group and the Volkswagen Group," team boss Frederic Vasseur said in Melbourne.
Alfa's team manager Beat Zehnder, however, is willing to say a little more.
"We've already worked with Mercedes and BMW," he told Sky Deutschland. "Audi would fit in well here.
"We are certainly an attractive partner, especially with our performance of the first two races. But I can't say anything because I'm not involved in the talks," Zehnder added.
"But we would be an attractive partner, not only for Audi but also for Porsche."
However, it is more than obvious that Porsche's plan is to slot in seamlessly with Red Bull, who are already preparing to put the first 'Red Bull' engine on the dynamometer later this year.
"Now the talks will begin," Dr Helmut Marko admits to Sport Bild.
Team boss Christian Horner says Red Bull Powertrains is viable even without a carmaker partnership, but he said talks with Porsche are "logical".
"It's exciting for Formula 1, it's exciting for Porsche and for Audi and potentially a link-up with Red Bull would be eye-wateringly exciting," he said.
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Rumours Rumours, and who started this one, Audi..IMO what better way to get a few $$ off the invoice than spreading a rumour that Alfa wouldn't be a bad option for them too, heh its business..! I still think the ink will be on the deal with Mcl though, VCs buy and sell for profit, not sentiment .
There you go again, making sense. I warned you about that.
I know,Ror I have these sane moments, tomorrow will bring plenty of opportunities for sarcasm and mocking I'm sure..
So what about our friends in Italy? Are they to just support Ferrari and shut up while the Germans take over the rest? Tongue in cheek questions but to me it seems to make a mockery of the entire sport, whoever puts the most money in gets to call the team whatever they like, nothing to do with national identity or motorsport heritage, maybe Audi or Porsche will run Honda engines?
GM suggest you check the motorsport history of Germany on the 1930s Merc v Audi then maybe comment about identity and heritage
The comment was just off the cuff ans as I see it. I wondered of others might feel the same. To be honest, I don't see me going away and reading up on German motorsport history, maybe you would like to elude to what you are referring to?
GMCD , if you cant be bothered that's fine, take the easy way out.
You too :)
Now now boys my sauces tel me that Vag are taking over Mb and the new car will have a Porsche engine so it will be a Vagina MB.
Where would you be without my specialist knowledge. Come to think of it Sir Louis is already calling it something like that hence his impending move to Alpine as also predicted.
Happy Easter.
Breaking news
Louis promised Legion de honour if he joins Alpine. No pressure to win, very uncool.
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