Audi insists VW Group crisis no threat to F1 project amid Qatar buy-in

Audi boss Gernot Dollner insists the manufacturer’s commitment to Formula 1 is not threatened by the financial dramas faced by parent company the Volkswagen Group.

Amid major losses for VW, the organisation plans to shut at least three factories in Germany, lay off tens of thousands of staff and shrink its remaining plants in its home country to cut down on expenditure.

These unprecedented measures have prompted suggestions that they could trigger a wider impact for Audi in it not being able to justify the huge budget required to be successful in F1.

But speaking at the Qatar Grand Prix, as Audi announced that it had reached agreement to sell a minority stake in the team to the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) – Dollner made clear that there was no question of the German manufacturer continuing to spend what was needed to be successful in F1.

“We have a business plan, and it's a business for us,” he said, when asked by Autosport about the impact of the VW situation. “This F1 project is an integral part of the transformation story of Audi.

“You can't build a future by only saving money. You have to invest. And we have to transform the company, the Audi company. We believe that the F1 project is an integral part of that transition of Audi.”

Audi CEO Gernot Dollner and Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

With the capital injection of the QIA deal set to go directly to boosting investment at Audi's Sauber team, there have been suggestions that the move was triggered by the need to find extra funds because of the VW issues.

But Dollner explained that the plans to tie up with a major long-term investor were set in motion more than one year ago and are totally unrelated to the latest dramas.

“Not at all,” he said when asked about if there were links between the QIA deal and wider financial questions for the company.

“When I stepped in as CEO of Audi, we had a review of the project, and the question was how to proceed. And that was one year ago.

“Part of the decision to go really all in and continue this program was that we have to think bigger, and to think bigger in the context of a complex transition phase the whole industry is in.

“So we decided to take in partners as other teams do, to be able to really build a strong team. So it's not related.

The new Audi Sport F1 concept car

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“We started the meetings exactly one year ago. On the 29th of November, QIA, for the first time, visited our facilities in Neuburg, and were able to see the passion and the professionalism the team has.”

Dollner said that Audi had not yet decided if Qatar’s involvement would result in any of its companies taking any naming rights with the team from 2026.

“We are right now having a broad view on that. No decisions taken so far,” he said, before insisting that Audi would retain at least some title control.

“It will be definitely Audi as title sponsor of the team. And however the constellation is, the future will show.”

While the level of investment that QIA has made has not been revealed, it has been widely reported that it will take a stake of around 30% - which probably means a deal in the region of $350 million.

With that money set to go directly to Sauber, COO Mattia Binotto said it would be put to good use in helping fast track its push to the front.

“I think at the end, it is whatever is needed to bring the team to become a winning team,” he said.

“And if you look the gap to the top teams and the winning teams today, certainly there is a lot which is needed.”