Business of Sport QIA buys minority stake in Audi Formula 1 team By Pramod Kumar December 1, 2024, 11:21 AM Audi Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA (right) shakes hands with Gernot Döllner, CEO of Audi and chairman of Sauber Motorsport after the former agreed to buy a substantial minority share in Sauber The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has agreed to acquire a “significant minority” stake in Audi’s Formula 1 team, becoming a long-term investor and strategic partner. This sovereign wealth fund’s investment will provide a substantial capital injection to support infrastructure and team buildout, aligning with QIA’s strategy of focusing on investments with long-term growth potential. Audi is set to officially enter Formula 1 with a factory team in 2026, coinciding with the introduction of new technical regulations. “The Qatari fund’s involvement further energises the efforts at both the Hinwil and Neuburg facilities as they work towards the entry of Audi in 2026,” said Gernot Döllner, CEO of Augi and chairman of Sauber Motorsport AG. QIA believes that Formula 1 is a sport with significant untapped investment potential, said CEO Mohammed Al-Sowaidi. Rumours emerged online last month that QIA was in talks for a deal. “We do not engage in speculation. The team is not for sale,” an Audi F1 spokesperson told AGBI in early November. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. No financial terms of the deal were not given. In March, German carmaker Audi took 100 percent stake in Swiss operation Sauber, accoding to Formula 1 website. QIA owns a 17 percent stake in Germany’s Volkswagen, which owns Audi.
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