Porsche is reportedly set to acquire a 50% stake in Red Bull's Formula 1 operations as part of its 2026 entry into the sport according to a regulatory document filed with anti-trust authorities.
Porsche has yet to officially announce its F1 partnership with Red Bull, but that announcement is expected to come in the wake of the early August publication by the FIA of F1's 2026 engine regulations.
However, Porsche has conducted the administrative groundwork mandated by its projected partnership with Red Bull that includes a filing with the anti-trust bodies of the European Union and of a number of other countries around the world of the required prospectus and documents outlining its plans and joint venture with Red Bull.
German website Motorsport-Total has uncovered relevant documents filed by Porsche with Morocco’s Conseil de la Concurrence and which were made public by the latter after it had given its seal of approval to the partnership.
The prospectus suggests that Porsche signaled on July 8 its intent to acquire a 50% interest in Red Bull Technology Ltd – the subsidiary of parent company Red Bull GmbH that manages the energy drink company's F1 operations in Milton Keynes.
The document also confirms that a joint venture between Red Bull and Porsche will be set up to develop and manufacture a power unit for Red Bull Technology.
The main takeaway from the literature published by the Conseil de la Concurrence is that Porsche's interest in F1 with Red Bull will surpass what many believed would be a simple engine supply deal. It now transpires that the Stuttgart firm will invest in the sport as a bona fide partner of Red Bull.
It is expected that Red Bull's second team, Scuderia AlphaTauri, would also use the Porsche and Red Bull developed power unit on the basis of a normal supply deal.
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Regarding Audi, Porsche's sister Volkswagen Group brand, the manufacturer appears to still be on track to acquire a majority stake in the Sauber Group – which operates the Alfa Romeo F1 team - through a series of incremental investments.
Furthermore, Audi's engine plans are expected to be entirely independent from Porsche.
Finally, there has been speculation that Porsche and Audi's commitment to F1 has been put in jeopardy by the abrupt resignation last week of Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess.
Diess will be replaced on Sept.1 by Porsche chief executive Oliver Blume.
So far, there has been no indication or smoke signs on the horizon that Volkswagen, in the wake of its unexpected management change, will scrap the F1 plans of either of its subsidiaries.
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