Audi will make a decision about whether or not to enter Formula 1 towards the end of the first quarter or the start of the second quarter of this year.
An unnamed source who spoke with Reuters said that the supervisory board will discuss the subject at an upcoming meeting at the end of February. They stipulated, though, that a decision will not be made until later.
The German newspaper F.A.Z. similarly reported that Volkswagen’s supervisory board will decide on an entry into the sport for both Audi and Porsche, by the end of February.
Reports of the Volkswagen Group entering F1 go back years, with Audi’s involvement being the subject of rumors since at least 2014. The latest reports suggest that Audi will enter the sport by buying the McLaren race team, while Porsche will become a supplier for Red Bull.
Read More: Audi To Buy Its Way Into F1 Through McLaren Group, Porsche Will Power Red Bull Racing
The decision to enter two of its brands into the sport may sound unusual, but VW has a plan. By working together, they could take on the F1 establishment of Mercedes and Ferrari more effectively.
Even if the teams fail to collaborate (or the plan to hedge its bets turns into an expensive farce) it wouldn’t be the first time that Porsche and Audi have competed in the same sport.
The tie-up with McLaren has been an interesting one, as a report emerged last year suggesting that Audi had bought the brand, which was quickly denied by both automakers. Sources, though, told Reuters that a discussion was on the table but that it hadn’t been confirmed.
However this all shakes out, it’s clear that Volkswagen has an interest in getting into F1 and that the sport is similarly interested in getting the automaker involved. In September, Toto Wolff, the Mercedes F1 team’s boss said that his team was willing to make compromises to get the Volkswagen Group into the series.
