Porsche and Audi confirmed to enter Formula One

It's official – Porsche and Audi will enter the Formula One World Championship, with Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess confirming the sport's worst-kept secret.

Rumoured to be a done-deal since the start of the year as mutiple manufacturers took an interest in McLaren's operations, the announcement all but confirms Audi will invest in the Bruce McLaren-founded operation, while earlier reports of Porsche developing an alliance with reigning champions Red Bull seem to be all but done.

As reported by Automotive News Europe, Diess confirmed the decision to enter Formula One was made to bring in more money to the Volkswagen Group through international exposure.

2

Porsche enjoyed a dominant run as an engine supplier in Formula One, winning the title from 1984 to 1986

"According to both premium brands, Formula One is the most important lever to boost brand value," said Diess.

"With the plans for a bigger presence in China and the US, the attraction as the biggest motor-racing spectacle is only going to grow."

Porsche has been in Formula One before as an engine supplier, having won the World Championship three years in row from 1984 to 1986 with McLaren thanks to its dominant TAG-Porsche TTE PO1 V6.

It will be the first time for Audi on motorsport's biggest stage despite all its success at Le Mans and in the World Rally Championship, with the German marque understood to be planning an offer of €500 million (AU$742m) for McLaren – inclusive of the Formula One team and its road car operation.

It's not yet known when the two brands will make it on to the Formula One grid, although each manufactuer is understood to be currently developing power units for the series, with the 2026 season seeing new generation engine implemented for the series.