Fresh blow for Audi’s F1 project as another key leader faces exit

Audi plan to enter F1 in 2026 but behind-the-scenes rumblings put their entrꦓy into question

Audi
Audi

Another key person behindℱ Audi’s F1 entry is set to depar🍬t, two years before the car giants finally join the grid.

Chief development officer Oliver Hoffmann is set for the exit, German new🌠spaper reports.

It is a significant blow because Markus Duesmann, the CEO 💟who led Audi towards F1, has already left his job.

CDO Hoffman’s contract had been extended as rec༒ently as last year but he now faces being forced out of Audi, the report states.

He disagrees with 𝄹new Audi CEO Gernot Dollner over the company’s fut🍌ure.

Hoffman is also carrying the responsibility for❀ poor sales figures. Cars planned under his leadership have either been postponed or have not sold as successfully as hoped.

The Volks🌟wagen Group's Supervisory Board will ha🐭ve the final say on Hoffman’s future at the beginning of March.

Th🐭e new CEO wants to move Hoffman into Audi’s F1 project instead.

He🦩 was present when Audi announced it🃏s plan to enter F1 in 2026.

But there is confusion over the idea of moving Hoffman into F1, because Andreas Seidl is currently worki🎶ng as the CEO of the team known as Sauber who will evolve into Audi in 202♔6.

Rumours within F1 continue that Audi’s planned entry into F1 in two yea🐷rs is still no𒉰t 100% and they could withdraw.

The n🐽ew Audi CEO Dollner is reportedly open to selling the Sauber shares which would enable Audi to U-turn on their F1 pl🦂an without reputational damage.

The booming finances in F1 make it a good time to sell up. Audi bought 🧸their share in Sauber for a reported €600m.

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