Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess on Monday announced that Porsche and Audi will be part of the Formula 1 in 2026. However, he explained that getting into motorsport is not the company’s main priority and the decision was not unanimous. 

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As per media reports and rumours, Audi was already working on purchasing either McLaren or Sauber and Porche would like to make its debut in F1 as an engine manufacturer, possibly for Red Bull. However, there is no confirmation so far.

VW CEO Herbert Diess, as per PlanetF1, said that the organization does not “really need to do Formula 1” and prioritises the car’s development over it. 

“We certainly have other priorities strategically. It’s not necessarily motorsport, but our cars have to be technically up to date, we have to be able to drive autonomously, we need the software capabilities, we need batteries for our cars. We have enough to do and we don’t really need to do Formula 1,” Diess said. 

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However, he explained that F1 will help the brand increase its value and demonstrate superior technology. 

“But our premium brands say that’s the most important lever to increase the brand value and to be able to take a little bit more for the cars in terms of pricing. And also to demonstrate to the competition that you have superior technology, in the case of Audi. That’s why the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board have all voted in favour of this. Audi still has to decide in which constellation and with which team. But both have started to develop engines,” he said. 

Diess added that Audi ‘actually has the better case for Formula 1 because it has much greater potential for the brand’. 

“If Porsche does motorsport, the most efficient thing is to do Formula 1,” he said.