Audi announce major partner: 'This is a signal'

Audi's future Formula 1 team have secured a major sponsor and technical development partner. The German manufacturer will work exclusively with oil giant bp. This includes marketing and brand rights for the BP, Castrol and Aral brands (Aral is bp's main fuel and retail brand in Germany).

Audi are preparing to enter the king class of motorsport in 2026, when new regulations come into force. Part of this includes improved engine electrification and the use of advanced renewable fuel. For this, bp have now been enlisted. The company will supply the fuel that will soon be used by Audi.

The parties have been working closely together for almost two years, developing bp fuels and Castrol lubricants to enable maximum performance of the Audi power unit. The collaboration also includes the development of the FIA-defined Advanced Sustainable Fuel. To comply with regulations, the fuel must achieve greenhouse gas emission savings compared to fossil petrol of at least 65 per cent.

"Audi and bp have always worked together successfully in motorsport," says Audi F1 CEO Andreas Seidl. "We are delighted that we can take this special partnership to the next level in Formula 1. Audi stands for ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ and bp and Castrol also aspire to deliver the best technologies in the field of fuels and lubricants. This is a perfect match. It is a strong signal for Audi’s future F1 factory team that we have been able to establish this partnership at such an early stage. We sense the appeal of the Audi F1 Project and how many renowned companies want to work with Audi in Formula 1."