Renault’s decision doesn’t scare Audi: “The choice was never in question” – Gernot Dollner. Renault's departure from F1 doesn't seem to have affected Audi.

Formula 1 will lose a manufacturer starting in 2026, as Renault has decided to exit its engine program. However, this decision hasn’t disrupted Audi’s plans, as they remain committed to continuing their 2026 power unit development.

In the meantime, the Viry factory will continue supplying Alpine with engines until the end of the 2025 season. This decision has been brewing over the years, following their last victory at the 2021 Hungarian GP, with the Renault engine consistently lagging behind competitors. It’s no coincidence that Renault had no customer teams.

For Audi CEO Gernot Dollner, such a decision was never a topic of discussion:

“No, this was never in question,” Gernot Dollner insisted when asked by the media if Audi had ever considered abandoning the project. In fact, Audi will join Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, and Red Bull-Ford as F1 engine manufacturers in 2026. F1 leadership had decided to simplify the 2026 power units in an effort to attract new manufacturers; an objective that hasn’t been entirely successful, given Renault’s decision.

Audi, the engine is just one of the problems
At Audi, the situation is more challenging than expected. Beyond the power unit, the team needs to reorganize and improve, given Sauber’s performance this year. Gernot Dollner believes in Mattia Binotto and the future team principal Jonathan Wheatley, who have the leadership needed to push the team forward:

“Audi has a long-term commitment to Formula 1,” Gernot Dollner said in a recent interview – “Earlier this year, the supervisory boards of AG and Audi made the decision to take full control of Sauber shares. So, on January 1, 2025, we will be 100% responsible for Sauber. That will happen in 2025, and as I am now chairman of Sauber, of the board of Sauber Motorsport, it means I will personally be more intensely involved in our Formula 1 project.” – he pointed out.

Former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto, however, is much more cautious and doesn’t have any illusions:

“Having our own power unit is a key element of the project,” Mattia Binotto stated. “It is a key element of our objectives, not just being a chassis that wins a championship in Formula 1, but being a full-fledged manufacturer, producing both chassis and power units. We know the challenge is huge, it’s a big investment.” – the Italian manager concluded.