Qatar buys huge stake in Audi F1 team as Sauber project takes fresh twist

The existing Sauber Formula 1 team is set to become the Audi works outfit from 2026 but already a significant portion of the project has been sold to Qatar’s Sovereign Wealth Fund

Audi has announced significant Qatari investment into its nascent Formula 1 project.

The Qatar Investment Authority has purchased what is understood to be a 30 percent stake in the outfit currently competing as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber. It comes after Audi only completed its full takeover of the Switzerland-based squad earlier this year.

Audi will still have the majority stake in the team and it is expected it will still be branded as the Audi works team when the German carmaker officially enters the sport in 2026. But the Qatari investment will raise significant capital for a team which has significant outgoings, particularly at its factory at Hinwil.

Sauber joins the likes of Mercedes and McLaren as examples of F1 teams with a split ownership model. The latter also has significant ties in the Middle East, as the McLaren parent company is fully owned by the Bahraini sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat.

Audi said it will use the Qatari cash to “increase infrastructure and team buildout, positioning the team for long-term success in Formula 1”. Chairman of the Audi board Gernot Dollner said: “The investment by QIA reflects the trust and confidence the Audi F1 Project has already garnered, underscoring unwavering commitment of Audi to the initiative.

“This additional capital will accelerate the team’s growth and is yet another milestone on our long-term strategy. QIA’s involvement further energizes the dedicated efforts at both the Hinwil and Neuburg facilities as they work towards the entry of Audi in 2026.”

Audi’s parent company, the Volkswagen Group, is facing significant financial issues and plans to lay off tens of thousands of workers to reduce costs. Regardless, Dollner insists they will spent cash to be successful in F1 going forward.

He added: “We have a business plan, and it is a business for us. 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.”

Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, chief executive of the Qatar Investment Authority, said: “Audi is a premium partner of choice with a rich motorsport legacy. As a long-standing investor in the Volkswagen Group, we believe in Audi’s vision and direction when entering Formula 1 and our investment will support the realization of this goal.

“QIA believes that Formula 1 is a sport with significant untapped investment potential. The increasing commercialization of professional sports as an entertainment offering globally, and the increasingly global popularity of Formula 1, has made for an exciting opportunity for our first major motorsports investment.”