Will Mercedes face the next wave of staff departures with Audi’s Formula 1 entry in 2026? Why team boss Toto Wolff doesn’t think so
Audi will be the second major German car manufacturer to enter Formula One in 2026, after Mercedes became a full works team in the premier class in 2010. For the big teams Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari, this will not only add a new rival to be taken seriously on and off the track.
With Audi set to become a factory team by taking over the relatively small Sauber team, the German carmaker could poach staff from rivals in addition to installing its own. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is not too worried about this, however.
“We haven’t lost anyone to Audi yet, but there will be situations where some of the Mercedes or ex-Mercedes people will go to Audi, there is no doubt about that,” Wolff says. “This is an open market and between the teams there are these movements. “
Wolff: Red Bull more dangerous than Audi regarding personnel poaching
“We also have these movements from other power unit manufacturers to us, although we don’t issue a press release every time that happens. So it’s completely normal,” says the Mercedes team boss.
Not so long ago, the Mercedes team already had to endure some painful departures in the engine department after Red Bull set up its own engine factory, Red Bull Powertrains, in order to be able to compensate for the Formula 1 exit of former engine partner Honda at the end of 2021. In doing so, they have mainly made use of Mercedes’ personnel.
“I think the biggest competition is and was Red Bull because they are just around the corner,” says Wolff, explaining that the barrier of moving from Mercedes’ Brackley and Brixworth sites to Red Bull’s headquarters in Milton Keynes, a few kilometres away, is lower than going from England to Audi’s base in Neuburg, Germany, or in future to Hinwil in Switzerland.
Wolff sure: Audi will be “very competitive “
“I think there is a bigger hurdle to change the power unit manufacturer when it comes to moving to Germany so that is definitely not something that worries me the most,” Wolff added. “And the cost capping is also coming in the power unit area so that limits the amount of money that can be spent and I think that’s important.”
Nevertheless, the Mercedes team boss is aware that Audi will be a serious competitor for Mercedes: “It’s very exciting. They have a fantastic infrastructure in Neuburg, a state-of-the-art facility. “
“They know how to perform, as they showed at Le Mans. And I have no doubt that they will be very, very competitive. They are now part of a team that is based in German-speaking Switzerland. That’s something they know and understand. So I think it will certainly be a challenge for them.”
“But I am convinced that they will be good in the game. So it’s good that they are joining. It shows the strength and the attractiveness of Formula One and what it can offer to the best brands in the world,” Wolff said.