Audi engine in F1 in 2016 isn't happening

[catamount39]

Good enough for me, I call this a wrap folks. Dr. Ulrich has said that Audi has no F1 aspirations, and that Domenicali's job at Audi doesn't even involve motorsport. Saying that they're focus is in the WEC and DTM. And they said that they haven't contacted Alonso at all.
http://www.racer.com/f1/item/110545-audi-says-no-f1-plans-no-contact-with-alonso

 

[TenEightyOne]

Good enough for me, I call this a wrap folks. Dr. Ulrich has said that Audi has no F1 aspirations, and that Domenicali's job at Audi doesn't even involve motorsport. Saying that they're focus in the WEC and DTM. And they said that they haven't contacted Alonso at all.
http://www.racer.com/f1/item/110545-audi-says-no-f1-plans-no-contact-with-alonso

He's a fool, hasn't he read this thread?

 

[Legro]

Good enough for me, I call this a wrap folks. Dr. Ulrich has said that Audi has no F1 aspirations, and that Domenicali's job at Audi doesn't even involve motorsport. Saying that they're focus in the WEC and DTM. And they said that they haven't contacted Alonso at all.
http://www.racer.com/f1/item/110545-audi-says-no-f1-plans-no-contact-with-alonso

While I think that it would make sense for Audi to join F1, but this is the most official source right now so I'm going to add it to OP.

 

[R5]

http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/is-au...source=jalopnik_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

Fairly interesting article on why it just might happen.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Good enough for me, I call this a wrap folks. Dr. Ulrich has said that Audi has no F1 aspirations, and that Domenicali's job at Audi doesn't even involve motorsport. Saying that they're focus is in the WEC and DTM. And they said that they haven't contacted Alonso at all.
http://www.racer.com/f1/item/110545-audi-says-no-f1-plans-no-contact-with-alonso

Good to know that's sorted. Now, I'm sure there are some more pressing questions that need to be answered - like, for example, is the sky really blue?

Seriously, nothing was ever going to come of this. With their success in Le Mans, Audi is the ultimate fantasy constructor for fans, and so rumours of their imminent entry get wheeled out this time every year. Even when they emphatically deny it, people still defy common sense and logic to explain why it really is happening.

Can we please put this ridiculous rumour to bed for good?

 

[R5]

Good to know that's sorted. Now, I'm sure there are some more pressing questions that need to be answered - like, for example, is the sky really blue?

Seriously, nothing was ever going to come of this. With their success in Le Mans, Audi is the ultimate fantasy constructor for fans, and so rumours of their imminent entry get wheeled out this time every year. Even when they emphatically deny it, people still defy common sense and logic to explain why it really is happening.

Can we please put this ridiculous rumour to bed for good?

You can't write it off to quickly, I mean it has been said that the sky is really clear, and just reflects water, like a mirror. It's not black and white... straightforward rather...

But to write Audi being in F1 off is something of a nonsense, because Porsche will soon be, as agreed, VAG's only LMP1 team, most likely when R18 is retired, as that would be roughly £300 million... or what a small F1 team will cost. Of course, commercial rights (Which don't exist in WEC) will make up the loss for the development costs.

Sky not really blue, Audi considering F1 in the near future.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Audi considering F1 in the near future.

This is the absurdity that I am talking about. Audi themselves have confirmed that they are not planning an entry, and yet despite this, you maintain that they are thinking about it on the basis of no evidence and without having refuted their statement.

 

[Liquid]

If, if, Audi did enter Formula One I'd love to see them as a constructor rather than just as an engine supplier.

But until there is any evidence to suggest otherwise, they're not planning anything with F1. It's the same rumour year after year.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/318196/domenicali-to-start-work-at-audi-this-week/

I guess this helps fuel the Audi to F1 rumors a bit...

To be honest if I had the money to run a race team at any level id be knocking on his door he was a very good tp.

 

[catamount39]

To be honest if I had the money to run a race team at any level id be knocking on his door he was a very good tp.

The good doctor said that Domenicali's new job wasn't in the motorsport division.

 

[Nessy]

Can we please put this very plausible rumour to bed for good?

No!

 

[marco89IT]

Other than all the aspects already mentioned here, I think Audi's management and marketing division will try to evaluate very carefully how Mercedes experience in F1 will affect worldwide sales and brand prestige of the three-pointed star brand and in comparison with Audi itself. This will take some years and will obviously be not a lot more than assumptions, but they're strict competitors on the market, and they study each other's move.
Mercedes and Audi are extremely close in terms of marketing; same car categories, same recognition as "premium" brands, very similar prices, same countries covered, almost exactly the same targets as customers, etc.
This can't be said in comparison with other car manufacturers in F1 like Ferrari, Renault and McLaren. So, there have been years of rumors about Audi joining F1, but for the first time they can actually evaluate how an F1 involvement affects an almost identical brand, even if only from outside.

Obviously, this will be just one reason among hundreds to take into consideration when Audi will decide to join or not Formula 1. I'm not saying that VW's top management will scream "let's build an F1 car with the four rings logo on it, immediately!" after seeing that Mercedes' sales have increased by 0,2% in May 2015.

 

[R5]

This is the absurdity that I am talking about. Audi themselves have confirmed that they are not planning an entry, and yet despite this, you maintain that they are thinking about it on the basis of no evidence and without having refuted their statement.

Ah, they've said their main interest is currently WEC and DTM. What about after 2016 though? "No clear plans" apparently so don't write it off until they say no then.

 

[TenEightyOne]

VWAG might be putting an F1 engine together... that might be the reason they hired Domenicali.... like we all said...

Linky linky

 

[Hun200kmh]

If that happens I'd like to see then name the F1 team and cars with a brand not as boring and "executive" as Audi.

I'd like them to call the team and cars ....

 

[TenEightyOne]

If that happens I'd like to see then name the F1 team and cars with a brand not as boring and "executive" as Audi.

I'd like them to call the team and cars ....

That would be good to see

 

[Furinkazen]

You're all blind, it's an obvious Skoda F1 engine

 

[TenEightyOne]

Here's the kind of common sense that boards understand... and remember that this falls outside the money coming via FOM, CVC or whoever;

The global advertising value of Mercedes' television appearances during its F1 campaign in 2014 was $2.8bn (£1.8bn).

Experts believe the equivalent value for VAG of their sportscar and touring car programmes was about $30m (£19m).

Even if the equivalent value for VAG is ten times larger it's still paltry compared to potential F1 revenue.

 

[Legro]

It could be anything from Scania to Ducati.



Yes both are owned by VW Group.

 

[Liquid]

They might have only hired Domenicalli to turf him out to the LMP teams. Let's not mentally masturbate over Audi/Porsche/Bentley entering F1 just yet.

 

[TenEightyOne]

They might have only hired Domenicalli to turf him out to the LMP teams. Let's not mentally masturbate over Audi/Porsche/Bentley entering F1 just yet.

I guess he wouldn't necessarily be involved if the feasibility study's findings were that VW Should Join F1!

It could be anything from Scania to Ducati..

Imagine being on the grid with Maldonado behind you in a Scania. Parp.

 

[Liquid]

I guess he wouldn't necessarily be involved if the feasibility study's findings where that VW Should Join F1!

Not out of the question but he could just as easily be on the WEC pitwall. Especially if they hire any more F1 drivers. He's had some interaction with them which gives him a minor advantage.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Here's the kind of common sense that boards understand... and remember that this falls outside the money coming via FOM, CVC or whoever;

The global advertising value of Mercedes' television appearances during its F1 campaign in 2014 was $2.8bn (£1.8bn).

Experts believe the equivalent value for VAG of their sportscar and touring car programmes was about $30m (£19m).

Even if the equivalent value for VAG is ten times larger it's still paltry compared to potential F1 revenue.

Executive boards maybe drool over those F1 numbers, but they'd be foolish to see it that simply. I suspect those numbers are obtained by simply calculating the brand's exposure time on TV and the average audience of F1 related transmissions.

But ...

... the way I see it, Sports Cars Racing (and Touring Cars Racing too) are much more effective than F1 in the process of building a brand image connected to racing and also with everything related to the decision to buy a road car.

The BMW brand is a good example. if you don't take into account the Brabham years, I would say that BMW in F1 is a story of near failure. However, their Sports Cars and Touring Cars more than make up for it. If you go to your local track to watch some racing, there are good odds that a few BMWs will be there, racing. And if you go to any car workshop, or to any motorsport related place or event, I will bet that the BMW brand will be there on some wall, depicting any kind of M3 or Z4 in racing trim and livery.

Same with Audi really, if you forget the pre-WWII "Auto Union" era of Grand Prixs, they simply NEVER entered the supposed pinnacle of motorsports. However, with Rallying first, and Le with Mans a few yeasr later, Audi became a brand we all recognize and desire for the cars they make.

And to end ... Generally speaking which do you think is the more "racey" french car manufacturer? The recent quadruple F1 champion and feeder series title engine provider, or the Le Mans racer and recent Pikes Peak winner?

If you go by the BBC numbers, it should be unquestionable that RENAULT wins this, and Peugeot should only get a "paltry" result.

But I doubt that, and would be curious to know the results of a public survey with that simple question.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Executive boards maybe drool over those F1 numbers, but they'd be foolish to see it that simply. I suspect those numbers are obtained by simply calculating the brand's exposure time on TV and the average audience of F1 related transmissions.

That's actually exactly how it's calculated. If less beer I'd navigate a source for you. Arrows did surprisingly well when Coulthard was unable to pass Bernoldi at Monaco.

... the way I see it, Sports Cars Racing (and Touring Cars Racing too) are much more effective than F1 in the process of building a brand image connected to racing and also with everything related to the decision to buy a road car.

I think that's true to an extent although it depends (imo) on the price-band that you're looking at. I imagine there's much more markup in the 100k range than the 19k range and more F1 selling success too.

pre-WWII "Auto Union" era of Grand Prixs, they simply NEVER entered the supposed pinnacle of motorsports. However, with Rallying first, and Le with Mans a few yeasr later, Audi became a brand we all recognize and desire for the cars they make.

Good pub-quiz-fact; Auto Union Deutsche Industwhatever is a "bacronym", the company was founded by Horscht when he lost control of his own company (Horscht) and he gave it the name Horscht in Latin, which is Audi (Heard).

Generally speaking which do you think is the more "racey" french car manufacturer? The recent quadruple F1 champion and feeder series title engine provider, or the Le Mans racer and recent Pikes Peak winner?

To my shame I don't know the recent Pike's Peak winner but, without reference, I can say Renault. F1 is written all over them.

That's how it works for me, I quite accept that many other motorsport fans might not think that way... but F1 was the first motorsport I fell in love with (Apart from being unstrapped in a Renault 4 with my mother).

EDIT: Missed the Le Mans reference, so guessing Peugeot but still choosing Renault.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Fair enough. The way I see it PEUGEOT wins the most "racey" french car manufacturer by a large magin but it is as you say, there are different kinds of motorsports fans.

About the "Arrows" reference, I will admit, without a doubt, that product advertising in F1 is much more valuable than in any other kind of motorsports. I was solely refering to the effect of entering F1 on the car manufacturers themselves.

In fact it was the strengh of F1 as an advertising platform that made it live and thrive for decades without the need for works teams (bar the ever present Ferrari) I do remember a time when F1 was, with the exception of Ferrari and Lotus, and sporadically Alfa Romeo, basically a sport where the teams names had nothing to do with car manufaturing companies.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

And to end ... Generally speaking which do you think is the more "racey" french car manufacturer? The recent quadruple F1 champion and feeder series title engine provider, or the Le Mans racer and recent Pikes Peak winner?

To me, I'd still say Renault. 2 world titles as a constructor and many more as an engine supplier.

Peugeot fall in the same boat as Audi.

WRC, Le Mans and Pikes Peak wins and titles.

 

[Liquid]

Raciest French manufacturer? Well Peugeot were the original motorsport pioneers but they've been replaced in common currency by Renault in my opinion. For series where both have competed at some point;

Exclusive Renault Wins: British Touring Car Championship, Formula One race, Formula One Drivers and Constructors Championship (as supplier)

Exclusive Peugeot Wins: World Rally Championship, Pikes Peak

For whatever reasons, circuit racing is more popular than rallying in the mind of the average fan so Renault take that crown.

 

[Dotini]

Raciest French manufacturer?

Perhaps Bugatti has more race wins than you might imagine?

But my choice is Gordini. He persistently entered the lists when the others couldn't or wouldn't.

 

[TenEightyOne]

But my choice is Gordini. He persistently entered the lists when the others couldn't or wouldn't.

But he was Italian, I thought he didn't build/prepare cars in France until the Renault "partnership"?

EDIT: I'll partially correct myself, he had involvement with Fiat's factory in Nanterres, France, which spawned Simca.

 

[Dotini]

But he was Italian, I thought he didn't build/prepare cars in France until the Renault "partnership"?

EDIT: I'll partially correct myself, he had involvement with Fiat's factory in Nanterres, France, which spawned Simca.

Yes, "The Sorcerer's" relationship with Renault in the 50's came very late in his career. He was a Parisian from 1926.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amédée_Gordini