Linklaters is providing comprehensive support to Audi in relation to its entry into Formula 1

Linklaters has been providing comprehensive support to Audi in relation to its entry into Formula 1 and selection of its strategic partner. As announced by Audi, the premium brand will be joining, together with Sauber as a strategic partner, the FIA Formula 1 World Championship grid from 2026 onwards. As a consequence, this long-established Swiss racing team, in which Audi plans to acquire a stake, will compete in the premier class of motorsport as Audi’s works team from 2026, using the power unit specifically developed by Audi for that purpose. To implement this power unit project, a separate entity has recently been established as a wholly owned subsidiary. The project will be based at Audi’s facility in Neuburg an der Donau, near Ingolstadt. This is the first time in more than a decade that a Formula 1 powertrain will be built in Germany. Key to Audi’s decision to enter Formula 1 is its intention to make the world’s most popular racing series more sustainable and cost-efficient. The new technical rules, which will apply from 2026, will shift focus towards greater electrification and advanced sustainable fuel.

Julius Seebach, overall responsible at Audi:

“Working together with Linklaters, which has provided a high level of expertise and a team you could absolutely rely on at all times, was key to the project’s successful conclusion. This is an example of legal advisers performing at an impressive level.”

Dr Michael Moritz, Audi’s legal director responsible for corporate/participations, commercial criminal/antitrust law and legal project lead:

“The extremely high quality of the legal advice provided and the very short response times of the entire Linklaters team provided the level of legal certainty that was essential to being able to bring a project of such complexity safely to the finish line. I would like to thank the entire Linklaters team for their excellent support!”

A Linklaters team led by Dr Ralph Wollburg (Partner, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Achim Kirchfeld (Partner, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Andreas Müller (Partner, Private Equity/M&A, Frankfurt), Marco Huchzermeier (Managing Associate, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf) and Kaan Gürer (Counsel, Antitrust & Foreign Investment, Düsseldorf) provided comprehensive advice on structural questions and contractual matters.

Further team members are Sushil Jacob (Partner, Corporate/M&A, London), Yohan Liyanage (Partner, IP, London), Prof. Dr Daniela Seeliger (Partner, Antitrust & Foreign Investment, Düsseldorf), Dr Timon Grau (Partner, Employment, Düsseldorf), Dr René Döring (Partner, Employment, Frankfurt), Dr Arne Kießling (Counsel, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Tobias Rump (Counsel, Antitrust & Foreign Investment, Düsseldorf), Rich Jones (Counsel, TMT, London), Dr Julian Böhmer (Counsel, Tax, Düsseldorf), Dr Carl Sanders, Dr Julia Rupp (both Managing Associates, Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt), Eleanor Tayler (Managing Associate, Corporate/M&A, London), Sam Lintonbon (Managing Associate, Tax, London), Dr Rana Ersoy, Dimitrij Voronov, (both Associates, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Richard Ness (Associate, Corporate/M&A, London), Armin Lambertz, Tegan Camm (both Associates, IP, London), Tim Heintze, Simone Hagen (both Associates, Antitrust & Foreign Investment, Düsseldorf), Rupert Dugdale (Associate, TMT, London), Hermann Rasche, Dr Sophie Kruppa (both Associates, Employment, Düsseldorf).