New rumors suggest that Toyota will buy Sauber F1

The Toyota Sauber rumors have two roots. The first is McLaren’s recent announcement that it has added Ryo Hirakawa, a Toyota racer in Japan, to its reserve driver team. This development spawned the first rumor that the Japanese giant could return to Formula 1 in the second half of the decade to supply factory engines for the McLaren F1.

The second reason lies in the growing rumors that Audi could cancel its program to enter Formula 1. We remind you that in August 2022, the company from Ingolstadt officially announced that it would enter the sports factory in 2026, gradually buying the majority package of the Swiss Sauber (now Alfa Romeo F1) and producing its own engine in Neuburg, Germany , will produce.

So far, Audi has bought 25 percent of Sauber and wants to increase its stake to 75 percent within the next two years in order to enter the sport in 2026 with its own team that will build both the car’s chassis and engine.

However, recently there have been strong rumors, confirmed by credible German media, that Audi may reverse its decision to enter Formula 1 – as the previous announcements had been preceded by a change in CEO and the new CEO, Gernot Dellner, This aims to reduce costs and focus the company’s attention on production vehicles.

Audi and the Volkswagen Group in general did not comment in the slightest on the rumors for a long time after the rumors arose, while Sauber representative Alessandro Aluni Bravi simply explained this when asked at the Brazilian GP “The Audi has a strong commitment to it Formula 1, of course with her Clean. It is a group decision and the commitment remains.”

Audi’s first statement was not in the form of an announcement, but rather in the individual words of CFO Jürgen Rittersberger to the newspaper “Kölner Express”: “There was clear decision-making on the board of directors and the supervisory board.” We remain true to our entry program in 2026.” was enough for the German to say.

The information accompanying the reports of a possible change in Audi’s attitude states that the question of whether or not to continue the Formula 1 program will again be left to the German company’s board. Case in which the negative outcome of the case will be one of the possible scenarios.

However, Aluni Bravi insists Sauber boss Andreas Seidl is working hard to build the team in Heeneville and that recruitment will continue. The team recently hired former McLaren technical director James Key to lead the car’s engineering and design department at the Swiss factory.

“And it’s not about their commitment Audi in financing the team or continuing this development process”continued Aluni Bravi. “We have two owners, there is specific management based on the different phases of the transition that will be completed with a view to 2026, so we are advancing the investment plan and everything in coordination with management, which has been agreed.”lock.

Under the weight of the very real possibility that Audi would suddenly deviate from its original program, several rumors have arisen. One says Porsche, also a member of the Volkswagen Group, could take over the entire program, while another says Toyota may be interested in buying the Swiss team.

The Japanese have denied that Hirakawa’s hiring at McLaren F1 was an indication of their interest in returning to Formula 1, which they left in 2009 after spending billions of dollars in vain.

But the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, in an article by journalist Juuso Taipale, mentions – without providing any evidence – that there is a possibility that Toyota will seemingly save Sauber if Audi’s plan fails. However, due to the presence of Valtteri Bottas in the team, the Finns are viewing the issue with particular interest.