Cariad, the software subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, will bring an app store directly into the car together with the Samsung company Harman Ignite. Using a data connection in the vehicle, customers can access popular third-party applications directly via the multimedia system without having to use a smartphone. The new offer will initially be available in the summer for a few selected Audi models with the third-generation modular infotainment system (MIB 3). Other group brands will follow. (awm)
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Audi “I’m not thinking about supplying F1 engines to customer teams”[F1-Gate.com]
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Audi says it is not actively considering supplying F1 power units to customer teams when it participates in F1 in 2026. 2026 is approaching when the new engine regulations will apply. Many F1 teams have yet to decide which engine supplier they will partner with. McLaren, Williams, Haas and Aston Martin face important decisions. Either way, it doesn’t seem necessary to rely on a single supplier.
Williams has a watertight deal with Mercedes until the end of 2025, following which everything will be open. Aston Martin also has a Mercedes F1 power unit in the rear. A contract extension beyond 2026 would seem logical, given that Mercedes has stakes in British car brands. Haas has had a strong relationship with Ferrari since its inception. The contract between McLaren and Mercedes expires at the end of 2024. At the time of announcing the pledges, both reported that they would continue until “at least the end of 2024.” It is only natural that the mid-term 2025 might see a new one-year deal with Mercedes, followed by a switch to another supplier in 2026. It was revealed last week that Honda and McLaren, which have no contracts with the team following 2026, are conducting tests behind the scenes. This exploratory discussion might lead to new partnerships. It’s surprising considering that the two parted very unsuccessfully at the end of 2017 following some drama. Audi will take over the Sauber F1 team in 2026 as a works team. For Williams, McLaren, Haas and Aston Martin, the option of procuring power units from Audi as customer teams seems unlikely in advance. When asked if it would like to supply engines to customer teams, an Audi spokesperson said: “This partnership will allow the experienced Swiss racing team to compete as an Audi factory team from 2026 onwards, using power units developed by Audi. will be,” he told GPblog. “More than that, we are not actively seeking partnerships with customer teams at the moment. We are focused on the works programme.”
Audi is the best DTM manufacturer for the seventh time: following 2004, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020, the brand with the four rings has now asserted itself in the manufacturers’ classification for the first time with the GT3 sports car R8 LMS.
In his last DTM race for Audi, René Rast finished second for the sixth time this year on the podium and secured third place in the drivers’ standings. The Abt Sportsline team is third in the team classification, tied on points with the second-placed Mercedes-AMG Winward team.
“For the second time in a row, an Audi driver kept the fight for the title in the DTM open until the finale,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Rolf Michl. “René has done a great deal for Audi in his exceptional career. We would have gladly granted him a fourth DTM championship trophy.”
Winning the manufacturers’ classification means a lot to Audi Sport customer racing. “In the entire world of customer racing, the DTM is certainly one of the most competitive racing series,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. «A big compliment to our three teams and personally to those responsible Thomas Biermaier, Kimmo Liimatainen and Arkin Aka. Together with all the drivers, they secured the brand title for us. Being the best of six manufacturers and finishing in the top three of 34 drivers and 17 teams is an honor.”
After Audi Sport driver Kelvin van der Linde fought for the title up to the finale last year, three-time champion René Rast kept the fight for the championship open until the 16th and final race this year. The 35-year-old professional from Team Abt came to the Hockenheimring as one of ten drivers from five different brands with title chances.
Cleverly, Rast avoided several serious accidents in Saturday’s race and scored valuable points in fifth place before securing pole position for the final race on Sunday morning. In the decisive final race, only three drivers still had a chance of winning the championship. After 34 laps, Rast took second place in front of newly crowned champion Sheldon van der Linde. This means that five of the six Audi drivers clinched twelve podium finishes in total in the past DTM season.
Audi has its three customer teams to thank for the top result in the manufacturers’ classification. After Abt Sportsline and Team Rosberg had already launched the R8 LMS in the GT3 debut year of the DTM in 2021, Attempto Racing with private driver Marius Zug was also there for the first time this year.
Third in qualifying, he scored his first point for Arkin Aka’s team from Hanover in Hockenheim on Sunday. Finishing fourth in the race marked a strong end to the season for the 19-year-old native of Munich. He was only 0.291 seconds short of the podium.
Just like the German, Dev Gore started this season as a privateer in an Audi. The 25-year-old racing driver from Team Rosberg experienced his best race in Imola. At the third event, the American achieved a DTM podium result for the first time in his career thanks to a good race strategy and a convincing personal performance following an early pit stop in second place. His Rosberg team-mate, Audi driver Nico Müller, recorded his best performances of the year with a win at the season opener in Portimão and second place in Imola. The Swiss came in seventh in the final standings as the second-best driver of an Audi R8 LMS.
Two other Audi Sport drivers were at the start for Abt Sportsline. Kelvin van der Linde achieved his best performances with Audi this year at the Nürburgring: After winning the 24-hour race with Audi for the second time in May, three months later in the DTM he also achieved the best DTM season result. He finished the season in ninth place. His team-mate Ricardo Feller set several exclamation marks in his debut season in the DTM. The Swiss celebrated his first victory at the third weekend in Imola, and another trophy came with third place at the Nürburgring.
Audi returns to Formula One; This time it comes with a new engine Audi to join Formula 1 from 2026
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Audi, the world-renowned car manufacturer, is returning to Formula One. Audi will be part of Formula One once more from the 2026 season onwards. Audi will come with a new engine.
Earlier, Formula One had published new rules for building engines. New rules have been introduced to facilitate the entry of new companies. It will follow in the footsteps of the existing V6 engine and reach the engine of Formula One cars in 2026. However, the engines will have more electric power. The engines run on 100 percent renewable fuel.
Audi, part of the German automaker Volkswagen Group, is tipped to introduce a low-cost, sustainable engine. Audi’s arrival is expected to strengthen Formula One, which aims to reach zero carbon emissions before 2030.
F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said: “We are delighted to welcome Audi to Formula One. It will give more power to Formula One. He responded that being able to launch a fully hybrid engine by 2026 would be a great achievement.