As per media reports, Audi is set to acquire a 75% stake in the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 team. The report says that Sauber was previously approached by 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti at the end of last season as well. But they rejected a €350 million offer as the brand was not considered significant enough.
As per the aforementioned report, a deal might be on the table to take a 75% stake in the Sauber F1 team. The report said, “With Audi, Sauber is getting a strong partner who is willing to pay more than Andretti for fewer shares (Rausing is to remain on board as a minority owner). With the promise to further develop Sauber as a works team - very similar to the Sauber-BMW constellation between 2006 and 2009.”
Audi also has another advantage as their current CEO Markus Duesman was the head of development for the BMW Sauber between 2007 and 2009. The report says, "Today's Audi CEO Markus Duesmann, who pushed the brand's entry into Formula 1 at full speed, was head of development for the BMW Sauber team between 2007 and 2009 and still knows the conditions in Hinwil like the back of his hand."
Former driver Gerhard Berger has given his approval for this move as he said, "Audi has an excellent engine department. If Audi does F1, I trust them to give a good picture. Technically they are good. In the DTM they are with their engine. Some drove in circles around the others."
Similarly, Audi was reported to take over the Mclaren- Mercedes team as their entry into Formula One. But Mclaren racing CEO Zak Brown shut down the rumours as he clarified that their shareholders are committed to the British team. Similarly, they are also committed to their future as the team is performing both on and off the track. Brown said, "No. Our shareholders are very committed to McLaren. We did have conversations with Audi, and we're not for sale.
"We're very committed to our future. We're doing really well on the track. Shareholders made substantial investments to give our team the resources we need to get back to the front. Commercially, we're doing really well, morale in the team is really good. We don't have any interest in selling the racing team,” Brown continued.
