LUSAIL, Qatar — The Qatari sovereign wealth fund has announced its acquisition of a “substantial minority stake” in what will evolve into Audi’s official Formula 1 team starting in 2026. This significant development was revealed on Friday, just ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix.

According to a joint release, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) will serve as a “long-term investor and partner” and will inject a considerable amount of capital into the team, allowing for the enhancement of its infrastructure.

Currently competing under the name Sauber, the team is set to transition to the Audi branding in 2026 after securing a deal for complete ownership earlier this year. Audi’s CEO, Gernot Döllner, remarked that this infusion of capital will expedite the team’s growth trajectory and represents another step forward in their strategic vision.

Qatar’s involvement isn’t new, as it has previously invested in the Volkswagen Group, which owns Audi. Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA, expressed confidence in Formula 1 as a sport ripe for investment, noting its considerable potential that remains largely untapped. He added that the expanding commercial nature of professional sports, coupled with Formula 1’s growing global fervor, presents an exhilarating opportunity for QIA as it makes its inaugural significant foray into motorsports.

As part of their preparations for the upcoming season, Sauber is set to overhaul its driver lineup for 2025, bringing in Nico Hülkenberg and newcomer Gabriel Bortoleto to replace existing drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.