LUSAIL, Qatar — Audi has sold a stake in its Formula One team to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund ahead of the German manufacturer’s entry to the sport in 2026.

Audi announced on Friday, ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, that the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) had acquired a “significant minority stake” in the team, which currently races as Sauber. Sauber will evolve into Audi’s works F1 squad from 2026, racing with Audi engines.

Audi said in a statement that the sovereign wealth fund would join its F1 project as a “long-term investor and partner,” and the investment would provide a “substantial capital injection and pave the way for increasing infrastructure and team buildout.”

The deal marks the Qatar sovereign fund’s first significant investment in F1, deepening the Gulf region’s roots in the sport. Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, owns the McLaren Group, while Saudi Arabia’s state oil company, Aramco, is a partner of both F1 and the Aston Martin team. QIA already has a stake in the Volkswagen Group, of which Audi is a part.

“The investment by QIA reflects the trust and confidence the Audi F1 Project has already garnered, underscoring unwavering commitment of Audi to the initiative,” said Gernot Dollner, the CEO of Audi.

“This additional capital will accelerate the team’s growth and is yet another milestone on our long-term strategy. QIA’s involvement further energizes the dedicated efforts at both the Hinwil and Neuburg facilities as they work towards the entry of Audi in 2026.”

Qatar hosted its first F1 grand prix in 2021 before taking 2022 off to focus on hosting the FIFA World Cup. The Lusail International Circuit has a long-term contract to host F1 until 2033 and is one of four grands prix in the region, along with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.

“Audi is a premium partner of choice with a rich motorsport legacy. As a long-standing investor in the Volkswagen Group, we believe in Audi’s vision and direction when entering Formula One and our investment will support the realization of this goal,” said Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, the CEO of QIA.

Audi announced in 2022 that it would enter F1 upon the FIA World Motor Sport Council introducing new engine regulations in 2026, taking a majority shareholding in the Sauber team before opting for a total takeover completed earlier this year.

The Audi F1 project has undergone a number of changes through 2024, including a change in the senior management of the team. Ex-McLaren F1 boss Andreas Seidl was replaced by former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto, while Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley will join in 2025 as team principal.

The changes are intended to bring a fresh boost to the project. Sauber currently sits at the foot of F1’s constructors’ championship after failing to score any points through the first 22 races of the season.

Drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will leave the team at the end of the season, with Haas racer Nico Hülkenberg and Formula Two championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto replacing them. Hülkenberg and Bortoleto have been signed to multi-year contracts, meaning they will be racing for the team when it becomes Audi for the 2026 season.

The decision to sell a stake in the project comes amid a significant rise in F1 team valuations amid the ongoing boom for the sport. Al-Sowaidi said in a statement that F1 offered “significant untapped investment potential.”

It is also not unusual for a manufacturer to not own all the shares of its F1 team. Mercedes only has a one-third stake in its F1 squad, having equal ownership with INEOS and Toto Wolff, the CEO and team principal. Meanwhile, Aston Martin and Alpine (Renault’s F1 team) have also attracted outside investment in recent years.

(Attila Kisbenedek/AFP via Getty Images)