VW's entry into Formula 1 is becoming more and more concrete: "Wait and you will soon know more"

Created: 03/23/2022, 10:04 am

By: Alexander Kaindl

VW, Porsche and Audi - Formula 1 beckons.

© Hans-Günther Oed / Imago

The rumors that there will soon be another German car brand in Formula 1 are getting louder and louder.

VW subsidiary Audi is thinking about getting started.

• Formula 1*: The VW Group could soon enter the premier class

• Previous plans with Porsche have failed

• Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali says: "Wait and you will soon know more."

Ingolstadt – Formula 1 started the new season with fireworks: Charles Leclerc won the first race, beating his Ferrari colleague Carlos Sainz in Bahrain.

The Scuderia seems to be a serious address again this year - unlike in previous years.

But there may soon be a new player in the premier class of motorsport: VW!

VW before entering Formula 1?

Porsche was very close

The rumors that the German car giant is entering Formula 1 have been around for years.

Once upon a time, there were already plans in the drawer, and a commitment from VW subsidiary Porsche was being considered.

It didn't come to that - not yet.

Because there may be another German car brand in the field in addition to Mercedes from 2026.

Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali was again asked about the mind games in Bahrain.

According to information from the

, he replied: "Wait and you will know more soon."

Formula 1 News: Managing Director Domenicali has the best relationship with VW

Domenicali must know.

Before he took up his position as Managing Director of Formula 1 on January 1, 2021, he worked, among other things, as CEO at Lamborghini - a subsidiary of Audi.

Audi, in turn, belongs to the VW Group.

In his job at the time, he was already exchanging ideas with his colleagues at Porsche and talking about a possible entry into Formula 1.

Fritz Enzinger, former Head of Group Motorsport at Volkswagen and Head of Motorsport at Porsche, once confirmed in an interview with 

: "If it had been decided to send Porsche to Formula 1 in 2021, we would have it like this we were on the road in 2018, made it in time.”

VW subsidiary Audi before Formula 1 entry: "We are in contact"

So does VW still get into Formula 1?

Even if a little late?

According to the Domenicali testimony, the signs continue to intensify.

At the moment, however, it is not Porsche that is being traded the hottest, but again a sister company - namely Audi.

Development board member Oliver Hoffmann told

: "We are in contact with the Fia and Formula 1."

However, the right framework still has to be approved.

"For a decision to be made, the new regulations for the future power unit, which will apply from 2026, must have been approved and proclaimed by the world association Fia.

This is not the case yet.” The Ingolstadt-based carmaker is “taking a close look at where we want to position the Audi brand in motorsport and where we see the right challenge for us,” said Hoffmann.

Formula 1: Audi has been thinking about entry for a long time

Volkswagen subsidiary Audi has been in talks with Formula 1 for a long time. CEO Markus Duesmann has admitted this several times.

He himself has a Formula 1 past and used to be Head of Development at BMW.

From 2026, the hybrid engines in Formula 1 are to be operated with 100 percent sustainable fuel.

The combustion engine in the unit should only contribute 50 percent to the performance, the rest is electric.

This should also make the premier class of motorsport attractive for new manufacturers who want to present themselves in a more sustainable way.