Report: Audi will drop Le Mans program, join Formula 1
DTM is on the chopping block too, according to Auto Express
Audi has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans outright 13 out of the last 15 times—a staggering accomplishment. As the Audi dynasty piled up wins, critics wondered when the company might rest on its laurels. According to Auto Express, that time may be upon is. Audi may abandon both LMP1 and DTM to take a stab at the highest form of motorsport: Formula 1.
The report says key Audi insiders revealed that the company is developing a 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 and eyes one of the Red Bull teams—Red Bull Racing or Scuderia Toro Rosso—as its toehold in the sport. Buying an established team makes sense, as that would provide invaluable institutional experience and ease the growing pains of a new squad in the process.
The report points out that the German automaker has strong ties to Dietrich Mateschitz, who owns Red Bull, and Volkswagen’s ties with the energy drink company are real and substantial. Take WRC, where the two are joined at the hip in that series. A Volkswagen Group engine would be a more natural fit than the Red Bull RB10’s current Renault powerplant.
READ MORE: Stefano Domenicali falls on sword for Ferrari F1
The strongest evidence, however, is Audi’s hiring of Stefano Domenicali, who stepped down as Ferrari’s F1 director earlier this year. Why else recruit Domenicali—who has no experience relevant to any of Audi’s other racing programs—except as a Formula 1 consultant or team manager?
As we reported in May, Porsche’s Wolfgang Hatz revealed that the company first plotted its return to top-level racing back in 2010. There was a discussion about Hatz’s squad joining F1, but Volkswagen execs instead opted to run both Audi and Porsche in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
About half a year later, the FIA released their engine regulations for the new V6 turbo cars. It’s entirely possible that Volkswagen was aware of the upcoming regulations, decided then that Audi would begin transitioning into F1, and thus allowed Porsche to begin an LMP1 project to take up the parent company’s mantle in WEC.
Here’s something else to consider: it’s possible that Audi has been building and testing a 1.6-liter F1 engine in R18 mules since 2010. Many still suspect that turbocharged LaFerrari was actually a testbed for Maranello’s F1 engine, skirting rules about testing restrictions. Imagine what a camouflaged Audi LMP1 prototype could hide right out in the open. Perhaps the engine for a secret Audi F1 car?
Interesting. My son told me of rumors that Audi was interested in fielding an F1 team. Picking up Red Bull would be a huge coup, with the institutional knowledge and the aero experience. But would the motor be better than Honda?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/30336569
A brand-new report in the BBC says that Audi is using new hire and ex-Ferrari technical director Stefano Domenicali to lead a feasibility study into an F1 program. According to that story, the real hurdle to the foray, however, is that Volkswagen Group overlord Ferdinand Piëch doesn't like F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone on a personal or professional level, so one of them would need to leave his position before Audi could say yes, feasibility be damned. Since we're talking about two men who define professional longevity, that day might not come soon.
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/12/06/vw-f1-exploration-piech-wants-ecclestone-gone/
all a very interesting game!
The problem is the bad relationship between F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Ferdinand Piech. Was Stefano Domenicali hired to be the middle man so the Bernie and Piech did not have to deal with each other?