Audi’s F1 Future Sealed After High-Stakes FIA Meeting

News from RacingNews365 shares Audi’s reaffirmed commitment to Formula 1 for 2026 following a pivotal FIA meeting.

Amid speculation that Formula 1 could revert to V10 engines with sustainable fuels, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem convened a key meeting in Bahrain with current and future power unit manufacturers, including Audi, Honda, Mercedes, Red Bull Powertrains, and Ferrari. Ultimately, the proposal to move away from the all-new 2026 regulations was rejected — a decision shaped by a critical vote, where Audi, Honda, and Mercedes voted against the return to V10 engines. Under voting rules, only one of the five manufacturers needed to block the proposal to see it fail. (General Motors is expected to join as a power unit manufacturer in 2028.)

At the meeting, the FIA reaffirmed its commitment to the 2026 regulations as written but kept the door open for future “naturally-aspirated” engines — signaling that discussions about the long-term direction of Formula 1’s power units could continue beyond 2026.

Audi, represented at the meeting by Chief Gernot Döllner, reaffirmed its support for the 2026 engine regulations centered on highly efficient engines, advanced hybrid systems, and sustainable fuels. In a statement, Audi shared:

“We thank the FIA, in particular Mohammed Ben Sulayem, for having organised this important meeting in which we have engaged in constructive discussions with all relevant parties.
Our aim is to help shape a sustainable and future-oriented form of motorsport that leverages cutting-edge technologies—benefiting not only Formula 1 but also Audi’s broader technological development which we see reflected in the 2026 power unit regulations.”

The decision to stick with the 2026 rules was especially crucial for Audi. If the regulations had been abandoned or significantly delayed, Audi would have faced a major setback, lacking a developed power unit ready for competition. Unlike established teams, Audi has been solely developing a 2026-specification engine and does not have a 2025 power unit prepared. 

“Audi remains fully committed to entering Formula 1 from 2026 onwards, with power unit technology built around three key pillars: highly efficient engines, advanced hybrid electrification, and the use of sustainable fuels.”