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Audi and bp have entered into a strategic partnership for Formula 1, aligning their technical expertise to prepare for Audi’s 2026 F1 entry. This collaboration includes bp developing an advanced sustainable fuel and Castrol creating lubricants and EV fluids for Audi’s F1 power unit. Additionally, bp will sponsor Audi’s factory team, enhancing their longstanding motorsport relationship.
Key Highlights:
- bp to develop FIA-specified advanced sustainable fuel for Audi’s 2026 F1 entry.
- Castrol to create lubricants for Audi’s V6 turbo engine and EV fluids for electric motor and battery.
- Long-term sponsorship agreement with bp as the first official partner of the future Audi factory team.
- Marketing and branding rights for bp, Castrol, and Aral brands.
Under this partnership, bp and its specialist lubricants business, Castrol, are committed to delivering Audi’s ambition to merge technology and innovation for F1 success. bp and Audi have been co-engineering bp fuels and Castrol lubricants for nearly two years to optimize the Audi F1 Power Unit’s performance.
The partnership focuses on developing the FIA-defined advanced sustainable fuel, mandatory from 2026, which requires a minimum 65% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil-derived petrol. bp will also supply Audi with a range of bespoke Castrol lubricants and greases, including Castrol EDGE for the V6 turbo engine, and Castrol ON EV fluids for the electrical components of the Audi F1 Power Unit.
In addition to technical cooperation, bp and Audi have agreed on a long-term sponsorship deal. bp will be the first official partner of the future Audi factory team in Formula 1, encompassing marketing and branding rights for bp, Castrol, and Aral, bp’s leading fuel and retail brand in Germany.
Audi and bp share a history of successful collaboration in motorsport, with Castrol products contributing to victories in various Audi motorsport programs since the 1980s. This includes triumphs in the World Rally Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship, Le Mans 24 Hours, FIA World Rallycross Championship, FIA Formula E World Championship, and the DTM race series.
Andreas Seidl, CEO of the Audi F1 team, remarked: “Audi and bp have always worked together successfully in motorsport. 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.”
Nicola Buck, SVP marketing at bp, added: “We are proud that Audi has once again chosen to partner with bp and Castrol, this time for their entry into Formula 1. It gives our premium brands the opportunity to showcase our technical expertise at the pinnacle of motorsport. We are already making great progress with the Audi F1 Project on the development of the bp fuel and Castrol lubricants as we seek to innovate and unlock maximum engine performance for the Audi F1 Power Unit from 2026.”
Adam Baker, CEO of Audi Formula Racing GmbH, commented: “This partnership is of great importance to us. There will be strong competition in the field of sustainable fuels in Formula 1 from 2026. In view of the high-performance potential, it was important for us to start our fuel testing at the end of 2022 with bp as our partner. The combustion process is highly complex and can only be optimized by developing the engine in combination with the fuel properties. That’s why at Audi Formula Racing, where we are well advanced with Audi’s F1 power unit development, we use all three single-cylinder test benches allowed by the FIA regulations intensively for fuel development. It is impressive how many different fuel variants we have developed to date as we prepare for our 2026 race season. I am convinced that we are perfectly positioned with bp and Castrol.”
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