Audi consider they will circumnavigate the August 31 deadline by which they must formally enter F1 after the 2026 engine guidelines had been finalised.
Volkswagen Group manufacturers Audi and Porsche had been straight concerned in talks with the opposite stakeholders for over a 12 months concerning the rules for the following era of Formulation 1 energy models.
That was with a view to being on the grid themselves from 2026, both as an engine producer or a constructor.
For a while it has seemed as if the 2 firms would stroll in by means of totally different doorways – Porsche by the use of supplying engines to Pink Bull and AlphaTauri, and Audi through taking up an present crew or establishing a brand new considered one of their very own.
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A buyout of McLaren was initially rumoured, and shot down by the Woking outfit, however lately Karun Chandhok on Sky F1 stated he had been cause to consider the Alfa Romeo crew, run by the Sauber operation, would finally morph into Audi.
Because of the FIA setting out the brand new engine rules, newcomers have till August 31 to declare their intention to hitch the F1 get together from 2026.
Nevertheless, Sky Germany report an Audi spokesman as having stated they’ll “now look at intimately” the brand new rules and {that a} “immediate determination” is “to not be anticipated”.
The spokesman added: “The rules had been handed throughout the summer season break when Audi AG was not in session and a number of the related decision-makers, together with the board of administrators, are on vacation.
“So far as we perceive it, the method for the registration of power-unit producers for the 2026 season has not but been initiated by the FIA.”
Porsche are reported to have welcomed the approval of the engine rules at a gathering of the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council and stated additional details about their potential entry can be disclosed “at a given time”.
Pink Bull haven’t denied they’re in talks with Porsche, with studies suggesting the German producer may even be in line to buy a 50% stake within the crew.
Though Pink Bull crew principal Christian Horner stated lately there was nonetheless some option to go earlier than any settlement was prone to be accomplished, he seemed to be referring to the 2026 engine rules being laid out – which they now have been.
“There are some main caveats we have to get previous first earlier than issues can get anyplace close to development,” stated Horner.
“At that time, we’ll then be capable to try to have an additional dialogue with the blokes at Porsche.”