Audi have reaffirmed their “long-term commitment” to F1 after fellow 🐻manufacturer Renault axed their engine project.

Renault h⭕ave abandoned their power unit programme for🃏 2026, becoming a customer team for when the new engine rules are introduced.

Even though F1 is losing Renault, they’re welcoming Red Bull-Fo🥀rd, Audi and the return of 🅠Honda.

It’s been widely speculated that Audi are behind the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari with t💝he development of their 2026 F1 power unit.

However, Audi CEO Gernot Dollner has insisted Renault’sꦰ decision to abandon their engine project will have no impact on the German giant’s plans.

He said when asked about Renault: “No, that 𝄹was not part of the discussion.”

“Audi has a🍸 long-term commitment to Formula 1,” Dollner added. “Earlier this year, the supervisory boards of AG an෴d Audi took the decision to completely get control of the Sauber shares.

“And so we will be as of 1st January 𒉰2025 100 per cent in charge of Saub⛄er.

“In 2025 that will happen, and myself being now chairman of Sauber, of the board of directors of Sauber Motorsport, means that I also will personally iಞnvolve myself into our Formula 1 project more intensively.”

Sauber have endured a miserable campaign in 2ꦯ02ꦰ4, failing to score a single point in 18 rounds so far.

Dolꦕlner is confident with the signings of Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley, the project has the right i👍ndividuals at the helm to make it a success.

“I’m really happy that we found a strong, strong management for our Formula 1 project, with Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley🅰.

“With a strong dual leadership team, one t🌌aking care of the operations on corporate ❀with a project with a car.

“And the other one handl🌃ing our operations on the racetrack and being the spokesperson, we believe that we found a perfect solution for our future operations.”