The Qatar Funding Authority (QIA) has acquired a “vital minority stake” in Sauber Holding AG, the long run Audi Method 1 crew.
QIA is already a stakeholder within the Volkswagen Group – Audi’s mother or father firm – and can present a considerable capital injection that Audi stated will permit the crew to extend infrastructure and recruitment. The deal will probably be full by the top of the second quarter in 2025, as soon as Audi has accomplished its 100% takeover of Sauber in January. QIA will sit down on the board.
“The funding by QIA displays the belief and confidence the Audi F1 Mission has already garnered, underscoring unwavering dedication of Audi to the initiative,” Audi CEO Gernot Döllner stated. “This extra capital will speed up the crew’s progress and is yet one more milestone on our long-term technique. QIA’s involvement additional energizes the devoted efforts at each the Hinwil and Neuburg amenities as they work in direction of the entry of Audi in 2026.”
Döllner additionally denied there was any risk to the mission if Audi had not secured outdoors funding because it continues to work on its arrival in simply over a yr’s time.
“No, I wouldn’t say at risk, however once we reviewed it and made the plan to suppose larger, bringing in a accomplice was a part of that technique,” he stated. “So with out a accomplice, I’d not have been in a position to set the mission up as we did it. The choice was taken one yr in the past.
“Now, step-by-step, we first took over 100%, then introduced in Mattia [Binotto] and Jonathan [Wheatley], who will be a part of subsequent yr. So step-by-step, the plan turns into seen.
“What we do in the present day, bringing on this sturdy accomplice, is a mannequin a number of different groups have. And it’s, from our perspective, a crucial step to grow to be one of many high groups sooner or later.”
Audi’s announcement follows information surrounding a Basic Motors entry that includes billionaire Mark Walter. No further companions have been introduced for that mission at this level, however Döllner doesn’t consider it could be inconceivable for a automotive producer to go it alone in F1.
“I wouldn’t say so,” he stated. “An OEM may go it by himself, however I’d say it’s a extra clever technique to do it with sturdy companions, and when you have a look at the opposite groups, that’s fairly a hit issue to go in a set-up that we’ve additionally chosen in the present day.
“No plans but [for further partners]. It’s an possibility we do have, however we haven’t began the method. For in the present day, we’re actually comfortable to have, with QIA, this sturdy accomplice on board.
