Speculation that Audi may be tempted to enter Formula 1 were finally put to rest by the company's CEO, Rupert Stadler.
"This is not a topic for us," said a spokesman for the German manufacture, according to Reuters, while Stadler told business newspaper Handelsblatt that "Formula needs to solve its problems on its own".
After Volkswagen Group's chairman Ferdinand Piech resigned unexpectedly last month, the rumor mill was put in full spin. As Piech staunchly opposed any idea of Audi getting involved in Grand Prix racing, it was thought his departure could pave the way for the Ingolstadt-based firm's entry into F1.
Stadler himself fueled the speculation recently when he told British publication Auto Express that his company would be keeping its options open. The comment came right after the Spanish Grand Prix, and soon after Red Bull, which is enduring a miserable year with engine supplier Renault, expressed interest in partnering with Audi.
It will be interesting to see how the Milton Keynes outfit actually responds to the news given the uncertainty surrounding its future plans following Helmut Marko's recent claims that "If we don't have a competitive engine in the near future, then either Audi is coming or we are out."
Audi's racing portfolio, with involvements at Le Mans, in DTM and in Formula E, appears well stacked, but one may also believe that F1's current state of affairs and the enormous expense associated with an implication at the highest level of motorsport were natural deterrents for the manufacturer. Priorities may always change of course, but for the foreseeable future, the four ring firm has shut the door on the prospect.
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