Audi has said it will hire a development driver in the second half of 2023 to help prepare for its F1 entry and advance its F1 power unit for 2026.
Audi will enter F1 in 2026, three years from now. While developing its own F1 engine in Ingolstadt, it plans to partner with Sauber in chassis development and acquire shares to make it a works team.
Audi F1 boss Adam Baker says it’s too early for Audi to discuss a potential driver line-up for 2026.
Asked if Audi was looking to hire a German, Baker made it clear his priority was performance over nationality.
“Of course it’s attractive, but for us driver performance comes first,” Audi F1 Racing managing director Adam Baker told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, arguing that driver choice is still “too far”. .
“We haven’t even talked about 2024 drivers yet, so it’s very difficult to say how the driver market will develop in 2026.”
“We will have a development driver on board in the third quarter of 2023, which will be particularly important for the power unit development in the Neuburg driving simulator.”
Andreas Seidl was Audi’s first notable hire for its F1 project. He was unexpectedly poached from McLaren last month and placed as CEO at Sauber’s headquarters in Hinville.
But more hiring is on the way, argues Adam Baker.
“We’re already internationally positioned on this site, and our hiring process is aligned that way,” explained Adam Baker.
“In particular, we are already approaching professionals with F1 experience.”
“It’s the first time a power unit has been developed in Germany since 2009. So if you need experienced people, you’re likely to find them in the UK, France or Italy.”
