Audi F1 Team: History, Wins & Championship Stats

The Audi F1 Team, competing as the Audi Revolut F1 Team, is a Formula 1 constructor based in Hinwil, Switzerland, marking German manufacturer Audi's first full works entry into the sport in 2026. While the Audi name is new to the grid, the team's Hinwil factory carries one of the longest-running independent lineages in Formula 1 history, tracing back to Swiss motorsport engineer Peter Sauber.

The Independent Sauber Years (1993–2005)

Peter Sauber founded his motorsport engineering company in 1970, initially building sports cars before entering Formula 1 in 1993. Racing as an independent constructor without a major manufacturer's backing, Sauber quickly earned a reputation as a launchpad for future stars, giving early Formula 1 opportunities to drivers who would go on to become World Champions and race winners, including Kimi Räikkönen, Felipe Massa, and future World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Despite competing on a smaller budget than many of its rivals — including a strong fourth-place finish in the Constructors' Championship in 2001 — the team never secured a race win during this independent era.

The BMW Sauber Era and a Maiden Win (2006–2009)

BMW acquired majority ownership of Sauber in 2005, rebranding the team BMW Sauber from 2006. The German manufacturer transformed the operation into a fully integrated works team, and the investment paid off in 2008, when Robert Kubica delivered the team's first and only Grand Prix victory at the Canadian Grand Prix — a result that also saw the team finish runner-up in the Constructors' Championship that year. BMW withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of 2009 amid the global financial downturn, selling the team back to its founder.

Sauber, Alfa Romeo, and the Stake Era (2010–2025)

Peter Sauber continued to run the team through the following decade, developing further future stars including Sergio Pérez and Charles Leclerc, though sustained competitiveness and additional wins proved elusive for a team consistently operating on a smaller budget than its manufacturer-backed rivals. The team entered a long-term naming partnership with Alfa Romeo from 2019, before rebranding again as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber from 2024, as the operation prepared for its transition into a full manufacturer entry.

Audi's Arrival and a New Works Era (2026–Present)

Audi AG acquired the Sauber team's assets in 2024, taking full ownership ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season and forming the technical and sporting foundation of the new Audi F1 Team. Under CEO and Team Principal Mattia Binotto and Racing Director Allan McNish, Audi enters Formula 1 as a genuine manufacturer works team for the first time, fielding Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto as its inaugural driver lineup, and bringing decades of Hinwil-based engineering expertise into a new era of German manufacturer competition in Formula 1.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Full name: Audi Revolut F1 Team
• Base: Hinwil, Zurich, Switzerland (chassis); Neuburg, Bavaria, Germany (power unit); Bicester, Oxfordshire, England (technology centre)
• Founded (as current entity): 2026; lineage dates to 1993 (Sauber)
• Previous names: Sauber, BMW Sauber, Alfa Romeo, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
• Team Principal: Mattia Binotto (CEO and Team Principal); Allan McNish (Racing Director)
• 2026 Drivers: Nico Hülkenberg, Gabriel Bortoleto
• Engine: Audi
• Constructors' Championships: 0
• Drivers' Championships (current drivers, combined): 0
• Race victories (as Audi): 0
• Race victories (full lineage, incl. BMW Sauber): 1
• Podiums (full lineage): 10