Audi seriously underestimated how much one aspect of becoming leading F1 team in 2026 will cost

Follow us on Google Discover

Audi have underestimated one key cost ahead of entering the Formula 1 grid in 2026.

This season, Sauber have changed their name from Alfa Romeo to the rather more complicated Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber.

However, all of this is leading up to becoming Audi in the future, although a report from Auto Hebdo suggests they might not have realised how much investment the team already needs.

Sauber would have been disappointed with their performances in 2023, but it can’t come as much of a surprise that they were one of the backmarkers.

They’re one of the teams on the grid that haven’t been spending their budget every year and as a result, have started to fall behind their rivals.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu rarely troubled the points and the Finn has gone from scoring regular podiums with Mercedes to struggling to get out of the first session of qualifying.

Both drivers will be desperate to stay with the team as they become Audi in two years.

Although there’s another driver on the grid who is already ‘very high up’ on their list.

They’re aiming to become a leading works team in 2026, but it might cost Audi a lot more than they expected going forward.

James Key has already admitted that they won’t be the ‘final product’ until 2027.

That puts more pressure on the current team to get up to speed as quickly as possible before the takeover is complete.

Audi underestimated one key cost before 2026 entry

The report from Auto Hebdo suggests that Sauber’s investment has been ‘insufficient’ recently.

That’s in part because Audi originally underestimated the cost related to the development of a chassis and the team aspect of being a leading team upon entry into Formula 1.

Ultimately, entering F1 – even with an existing team – has proved to be more expensive than anticipated.

Audi will also be worried about the results of the team before their entry and how much they’re going to have to improve in the next few years.

Alongside Haas, there’s a real worry that they could be cut adrift from the rest of the pack.

Williams are investing as much money as possible while AlphaTauri will be working even more closely with Red Bull.

Audi now truly understands the cost of trying to become a top F1 team and it’s going to be very hard for them to challenge at the front of the grid in 2026.

However, stranger things have happened and with a major rule change being introduced that year, it will add a layer of uncertainty.