Toto Wolff allegedly gatecrashed Audi’s F1 deal with Qatar
With Audi selling a minority stake to Qatari Investment Authorities, Mercedes supremo Toto Wolff impressively gatecrashed the signing event.
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Audi and Toto Wolff, images via IMAGO
Even before entering the F1 grid, speculations have been looming about Audi‘s F1 project. There are questions about whether the team would be able to solve every potential issue before it arrives in 2026.
The German giant has already sold a minority stake in the Hinwil-based team to a Qatari investment firm, which Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff gatecrashed during a Netflix shooting. Audi has recently made several structural changes in its F1 project, which the senior members had deemed necessary in order to save its dwindling entry.
To accelerate further development, Audi decided to buy out 100 percent of the Sauber team from its owner and has now had to sell a minor share to get an influx of cash. With Audi finding investors in the form of the Qatar Investment Authority(QIA), the two parties decided to hold the signing ceremony during the Qatar GP weekend.
This inevitably led to some uninvited guests from the F1 paddock that were around the venue at that time. This included Toto Wolff, who gatecrashed the event, according to an F1 journalist.
There was an amusing aside in Doha in the fancy Four Seasons Hotel where Toto Wolff and Netflix were doing a little extra-paddock fly-on-the-wall filming, during which Toto spotted a sign which said ‘QIA Signing Ceremony.’ Recognising what this meant, the cheeky Wolff opened the door and walked in to find Audi boss Gernot Döllner signing a contract with QIA officials. You could not make this stuff up… Small wonder information gets out if you signpost secret signing ceremonies.
Joe Saward wrote in his post
Despite gatecrashing the event, Wolff soon got out of the venue and continued his day with Netflix. Thus, he is expected to have not gained any trade secrets that might have helped him evaluate Audi’s F1 entry.
Valtteri Bottas wants to remain on the F1 grid after getting snubbed by Audi
While Audi has been working tirelessly to get its things sorted for its F1 arrival, it seemingly left one of the best drivers to aid them in becoming a world champion outfit. It has decided not to hire Valtteri Bottas, leaving him without a seat for the 2025 season.
Bottas has been linked with a return back to Mercedes in a reserve-driver role that could see out the next year and make him a candidate for the 2026 season. However, the 35-year-old has stated that he still has the hunger for F1 and wants to get on board the perfect project that would value his experience.
I still have lots of hunger. All I want now is to be a part of the project for years ahead, have a clear plan.
Valtteri Bottas said on the Box Box podcast
Audi’s entry in 2026 might result in the team initially fighting for the lower point-giving positions like Sauber had before the takeover. This means senior figures in Audi will have to buckle up and get all issues resolved to establish the team as one of the stronger ones on the grid.
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Geetansh Pasricha
(742 Articles Published)