Why Audi CEO Gernot Döllner won’t be in Melbourne for his brand’s first Formula 1 race in 2026 and how he feels about the Grand Prix project
When Audi makes its Formula 1 debut in Melbourne on March 8, 2026, one key decision-maker will not be there: Audi CEO Gernot Döllner will miss his factory team’s Grand Prix premiere.
Döllner said on the sidelines of the Audi design presentation in Munich (see photo gallery!): “I have only one concern—that my schedule will not allow me to be in Australia on March 8.” But Döllner also assured: “The Formula 1 project is now entirely my responsibility.”
The move into Formula 1 was initiated by Döllner’s predecessor as Audi CEO: Marcus Duesmann. But just one year after the announcement, Duesmann’s time at the helm of Audi came to an end after almost three years, and Döllner took over as Audi CEO in September 2023 – and with it the Formula 1 project.
How Döllner realigned the Audi project
“At that time, an early project review was due—as for every other ongoing project in the company,” explained Döllner. “The analysis made it clear that a much more ambitious setup was needed for a successful entry into Formula 1 than I had found. As a result, the decision was made to take over the Sauber team earlier than originally planned.”
Audi also brought in an external investor, the Qatar sovereign wealth fund, “to raise the project to the required level,” according to Döllner. “With this step and the newly established program, the development of a new management structure began.” As a result, Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann, the previous project managers, had to leave, and Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley took over.
Döllner feels comfortable with this lineup and emphasized: “We are also very confident economically. The budget cap and the fact that everyone will start from scratch next year are crucial.”
This is the basis for Audi’s “three-step plan,” which Döllner explained as follows: “In the next two years, we will be the challengers. We have to improve on our current situation. From 2028, we want to be serious contenders, and from 2030, we want to be fighting for the world championship title.”
