Could Audi really buy the Formula 1 McLaren team?
[ad_1]
Audi and Porsche have recently been in talks with the FIA, with rumors that the two brands will enter Formula 1. While these are only rumors at the moment, there may be some truth to it. By 2026, F1 will change its engine regulations, requiring 1.6-liter hybrid powertrains, which are of great interest to Audi and Porsche. However, brands might not want to go straight into F1, instead teaming up with an existing or flat team. -out buy one. New rumors are circulating claiming that Audi wants to go for option B and buy McLaren.
Surprisingly, the McLaren F1 team are in financial trouble as they recently had to sell assets just to afford to keep racing. Despite the team’s historic success, it has taken on a fair amount of debt and could be opened for sale. Considering that McLaren is already an established team, with a long history of success, it might be in the best interests of Audi or Porsche to acquire the team.
Of all the teams that might be open for sale, McLaren is by far the best and most established. If Audi were to buy out McLaren, it would end up being good for both brands.
At the moment, McLaren uses Mercedes engines, which it probably doesn’t want to do, given that Mercedes is one of its biggest rivals in F1. If Audi were to take over, it could supply engines to McLaren, giving the British a new engine with which to take on its rival, rather than buying engines from that same rival. It would also give Audi a chance to learn McLaren’s chassis and handling technology.
With F1 moving to hybrid powertrains around the same time Audi wants to start getting rid of internal combustion, it makes sense for the four-ring brand to join the sport. It would also make sense to buy an established team, with knowledge in the sport, rather than starting from scratch. There is no better team to buy than McLaren, given their long history. The two brands could also work together on road cars, allowing their shared knowledge of F1 to trickle down to the road, which would be incredibly exciting.
These are just rumors at the moment, but we sincerely hope they are true. Not only would Audi in Formula 1 be great, but Audi buying McLaren would be even better.
[Source: Essentially Sports]
[ad_2]