Qatar’s investment in Audi F1 may surpass 50%, as fresh credible rumors indicate a significant ownership shift in recent hours.
Audi’s new Formula 1 venture appears well-positioned to sidestep Volkswagen’s financial crisis, but only under increasingly demanding conditions for the four-ring brand.
In recent days, it has emerged that, amid VW’s current crisis, Audi, the 100% owner of Sauber, may be on the verge of selling up to half of the F1 team for a substantial profit.
Audi’s acquisition price for the Swiss Sauber team was 600 million euros. A sale of a minority stake to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, potentially involving Qatar Airways as title sponsor, could yield Audi up to one billion euros.
As reported over the weekend, the Audi F1 and Qatar agreement—on top of Qatar’s existing investment in the Volkswagen Group—might be announced at the Qatar Grand Prix later this month.
However, the German press has gone further in recent hours, suggesting Audi F1 might be compelled to sell more than 50% of its team.
According to multiple sources compiled by Bild, “the sheikhs are ready to invest up to one billion euros. If Qatar were to acquire more than 50 percent, the team’s official name could even change.” However, a setup similar to Mercedes F1 could be implemented (Mercedes only holds one-third of its team), allowing Audi to remain the primary name on the FIA entry list.
The official team name could be Qatar Airways Audi F1. Audi has not yet commented on these latest rumors.
In Italy, Gazzetta dello Sport confirms that these rumors are credible but offers a caveat: “The investment is initially expected to be a minority stake, with no change to the team’s name or key personnel.”
“However, it’s not ruled out that in the future, the fund might aim to take a majority stake in the team, as well as Audi’s engine factory in Neuburg, Germany.”
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Audi F1 Ownership Shake-Up: Qatar Eyes 50%+ Stake Audi F1 Ownership Shake-Up: Qatar Eyes 50%+ Stake
