Qatar ready to invest in the Audi team?

Mathieu Warnier, Media365: published on Sunday November 10, 2024 at 5:35 p.m.

While Audi took control of 100% of the capital of the Sauber team last March, the German manufacturer could soon join forces with Qatar to make its plan to enter Formula 1 in 2026 viable.

Audi's Formula 1 project is in total limbo. After announcing its arrival in the discipline in August 2022, the German manufacturer entered into a partnership with the Sauber team a few weeks later. Which turned into a 100% takeover last March. However, while Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto were confirmed as the two starting drivers for the coming years, there remained uncertainty regarding the German brand's commitment. The arrival of Mattia Binotto as general manager and the announcement of the recruitment of Jonathan Wheatley, number 2 of Red Bull Racing, were likely to reassure but Audi had undoubtedly not thought about the investments that Formula 1 can require, especially when a brand arrives as an engine manufacturer. Indeed, the takeover of Sauber would have cost a whopping 650 million euros. A considerable sum which could lead to the arrival of a partner able to provide additional financing for the project.

Qatar would have an interest in taking out the checkbook

And this partner could be… Qatar via its investment fund Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), which is notably the majority shareholder of Paris Saint-Germain. Indeed, according to information from the German edition of the site motorsport.coman agreement allowing the arrival of QSI in the capital of the Audi team, which would then recover precious liquidity. Recently interviewed by Sky Germanyformer driver Ralf Schumacher echoed an outright sale of the majority of shares to Qatar. This would consolidate the emirate's commitment to Formula 1, beyond the organization of a Grand Prix on the Losail circuit over a period of ten years and the commercial partnership of its national airline with the FOM. However, the Gulf country would have another interest in saving from a financial point of view the Audi brand's entry into F1 project. Indeed, Qatar is the third shareholder of the Volkswagen group, parent company of the Ingolstadt brand, holding 17% of the capital of the German automobile giant.