Audi “I’m not thinking about supplying F1 engines to customer teams”[F1-Gate.com]

Audi says it is not actively considering supplying F1 power units to customer teams when it participates in F1 in 2026. 2026 is approaching when the new engine regulations will apply. Many F1 teams have yet to decide which engine supplier they will partner with. McLaren, Williams, Haas and Aston Martin face important decisions. Either way, it doesn’t seem necessary to rely on a single supplier.

Williams has a watertight deal with Mercedes until the end of 2025, after which everything will be open. Aston Martin also has a Mercedes F1 power unit in the rear. A contract extension beyond 2026 would seem logical given Mercedes’ stake in the British car brand. Haas has had a strong relationship with Ferrari since its inception. The contract between McLaren and Mercedes expires at the end of 2024. At the time of announcing the pledges, both reported that they would continue until “at least the end of 2024.” It is only natural that the mid-term 2025 will see a new one-year deal with Mercedes, with the possibility of switching to another supplier in 2026. It was revealed last week that Honda and McLaren, which have no contracts with the team after 2026, are conducting tests behind the scenes. This exploratory discussion could lead to new partnerships. It’s surprising considering that the two parted very unsuccessfully at the end of 2017 after some drama. Audi will take over the Sauber F1 team in 2026 as a works team. For Williams, McLaren, Haas and Aston Martin, the option of sourcing power units from Audi as customer teams seems unlikely in advance. When asked if it would like to supply engines to customer teams, an Audi spokesperson said: “This partnership will allow the experienced Swiss racing team to compete as an Audi factory team from 2026 onwards, using power units developed by Audi. will be,” he told GPblog. “More than that, we are not actively seeking partnerships with customer teams at the moment. We are focused on the works programme.”