What Changes Are Audi Bringing to Sauber in 2026?
For the struggling team colloquially known as Sauber, 2026 can’t come soon enough. The new season marks the beginning of a new era for the team as they rebrand under the four rings of Audi, who aim to bring the team to new heights under the changing regulations. Having recently revealed their 2026 livery, excitement for the new partnership is ringing across the paddock at the possibilities it brings to the sport. With the start of the new season in view, here are a few things to expect from the new partnership.
A Bigger Backing
With the backing of a major car manufacturer, Sauber can finally alleviate one of the biggest struggles that any F1 team faces: money. Formula 1 is an expensive sport and the costs of running a team get unrealistic very quickly. With heavy sponsorships and rampant ad placement, it’s not uncommon for teams to sell naming their naming rights to subsidize their spending needs, but sometimes this results in overly wordy team names. Sauber is the go-to example of this, with their official team name in 2025 being, “Stake F1 team Kick Sauber.” It makes sense for Sauber, as a lack of results over the past several years means they don’t get the same money from sponsorships that more prominent teams do. Having the full support of Audi means they won’t be worrying as much about securing these sponsorships and instead focus on creating a better vehicle and improving their drivers.
The New Power Unit
The regulation changes coming in 2026 have been widely discussed for some time now, and teams all across the grid have been busy preparing their new cars and their new engines. Sauber has been using a power unit provided by Ferrari, but Audi’s entrance comes with a change in that front as well. Audi has reportedly been working on their 2026 power unit for some time and will join the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes as the newest provider on the grid. It’s too early to say whose power unit will thrive under the new regulations, but having a provider secured for the foreseeable future will give the team confidence and assurance in what is sure to be a turbulent time in the sport.
Legacy
Audi is no stranger to motorsports. With a history in the racing scene dating back as far as the 1930’s, their involvement in Formula 1 is a welcome reentry to the world of open-wheel racing. Sauber has been in F1 since 1993, having seen many of what fans consider the best years of the sport. However, the team hasn’t had a win since 2008 under the backing of BMW, and has been in the back of the grid for some time. The new partnership shows collaboration between two veteran motorsport organizations with the hope of bringing the team into its own glory days.
