Audi will assume complete control of Swiss-based Sauber as it prepares for its transition into the automaker’s factory Formula One team starting in 2026. Oliver Hoffmann, Audi’s Head of Technical Development at Audi Sport GmbH, will step down from Audi’s management board to assume overall responsibility for the F1 program. Andreas Seidl, already positioned at Sauber’s base in Hinwil, Switzerland, will become the team principal.

Audi CEO Gernot Doellner will assume leadership of the technical development division, which was previously overseen by Hoffmann. In January 2023, Audi revealed that it had acquired a minority stake in Sauber, although specific details were not provided. Audi is currently developing its own F1 power unit in Neuburg, Bavaria.

Seidl, a German, previously served as team principal at McLaren before joining Sauber at the end of 2022. He commented, “We have ambitious goals, and their realization is already in progress and will be further expedited through Audi’s complete acquisition of Sauber.”

While Audi is accelerating its entry into F1, Porsche’s attempt to enter F1 fell apart after months of negotiations with Red Bull as a potential partner.