Audi and bp, an oil and gas company, have formed a partnership in Formula 1 (F1) as Audi prepares to enter the the championship in 2026, which also marks the introduction of new FIA F1 Technical Regulations. These feature enhanced electrification and use of Advanced Sustainable fuel.
As part of the collaboration, bp and its specialist lubricants business Castrol have been working together for almost two years, co-engineering bp fuels and Castrol lubricants to optimize performance for the Audi F1 power unit.
Another feature of the agreement is the development of the FIA-defined Advanced Sustainable fuel as required by the impending 2026 regulations. To meet the regulations, the fuel must achieve greenhouse gas emissions savings relative to fossil fuel-derived petrol of at least 65%, according to the FIA.
Adam Baker, CEO of Audi Formula Racing, explained, “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.”
bp will also develop and supply Audi with a range of bespoke Castrol lubricants and greases including Castrol Edge, the company’s most advanced engine oil, for the V6 turbo engine.
Andreas Seidl, CEO of the Audi F1 team, said, “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.”
Further building on the technical cooperation, the companies have also agreed a long-term sponsorship, with bp becoming the first official partner of the future Audi factory team in Formula 1. This will include marketing and branding rights for bp and the Castrol and Aral brands (Aral is bp’s leading fuel and retail brand in Germany).
Nicola Buck, SVP marketing at bp, added, “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.”
