Audi’s venture into Formula 1 has hit another snag, as whispers of management shake-ups continue to cloud its ambitious 2026 entry. The drama intensified with Markus Duesmann’s departure from his CEO position at Audi. Duesmann, a pivotal figure in Audi’s decision to partner with and eventually take over Sauber, left many questioning the future of the project.
Gernot Dollner stepped in to fill Duesmann’s shoes, but rumors are swirling that Dollner, who reportedly has less enthusiasm for Formula 1, is now butting heads with Oliver Hoffman, the chief technical officer. Leading German publications, Bild and Handelsblatt, hint at a potential ousting of Hoffman by Dollner, with speculation that Hoffman might be relegated to the F1 project, a role that’s currently under Andreas Seidl’s purview.
Seidl, with his background as a former McLaren team boss and now overseeing Sauber’s transformation into Audi, could become a prime candidate for Red Bull, should Christian Horner be shown the door.
This unfolding saga is expected to come to a head at an upcoming Audi supervisory board meeting. Despite the brewing storm, Audi remains tight-lipped, with a spokesperson telling Bild, “As a general rule, we do not comment on personnel matters.” This silence only adds to the speculation and anticipation of what’s next for Audi’s F1 ambitions.
