The German producer announced last year that it had agreed to turn into a “strategic companion” of the Sauber outfit for its official entry as a producer squad in 2026, whereas Sauber earlier this yr confirmed an undisclosed stake had been bought by Audi.
Since then nonetheless, Audi has stayed out of the general public highlight and never revealed a lot about its progress, an method that has led to some query its dedication.
Earlier this yr there was hypothesis that the producer was behind in improvement with its energy unit, whereas extra lately there was a report within the German press that it was even contemplating backing out of its plans to enter F1.
Such discuss has been strongly denied by present Alfa Romeo staff principal Alessandro Alunni Bravi, who defined that there was good purpose for Audi’s low-key method.
“Audi has a powerful dedication to Components 1 and, in fact along with Sauber, this dedication comes from a call not solely of the board of Audi but in addition the advisory board of Audi and the Supervisory Board of Audi/Volkswagen,” he mentioned.
“So, it is a group choice and the dedication is there.
PLUS: How a lawyer-turned-journalist became a crucial player in Alfa’s F1 revival
“Why there’s a lack of communication is easy. We’re Alfa Romeo F1 Staff Stake. So, till the top of the yr, we’ve sure limitations in speaking in regards to the staff, in regards to the future, in regards to the involvement of Audi, and we absolutely respect Alfa Romeo for this.
“We do not wish to make any type of announcement or greater than what’s strictly associated to the race and the championship. The dedication, as I mentioned, is there.”
Photograph by: Motorsport Images
Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Staff Consultant, Alfa Romeo F1 Staff
Whereas Audi’s full takeover of Sauber is being deliberate in phases, and won’t be full till 2026, Bravi has denied that there’s any state of flux within the outfit when it comes to its funding plans previous to the German firm being absolutely in cost.
“We’re working onerous to develop the construction of the staff,” he mentioned.
“We have now a powerful recruitment plan in place. James Key [new technical director] is one, however we’ve on a weekly foundation new appointments.
“It isn’t a matter of the involvement of Audi in financing the staff or sustaining this improvement course of.
“We have now two homeowners, , two shareholders. There’s a governance in place in keeping with the totally different phases of the transaction that will probably be accomplished forward of the 2026 season.
“We’re continuing with the funding plan, with every part, in accordance with the governance that has been agreed.”