BP becomes Audi’s first F1 partner

Audi has announced a technical partnership with BP and its lubricant subsidiary Castrol.

Contract:

• BP becomes first official partner of the Audi factory team ahead of its Formula One entry in 2026
• The company will develop sustainable fuels for the 2026 regulations
• Castrol will focus on lubricants for the engine and EV fluids for the electric motor and battery
• The partnership will include marketing and branding rights for BP, Castrol, and Aral (BP’s fuel and retail brand in Germany)

Context:

According to the official release, Audi and BP have been working closely together for the past two years ahead of the German marque’s entry to the series. It’s not much of a surprise considering Castrol’s involvement in Audi’s other motorsport entries, having been an official partner in the likes of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Formula E.

Comment:

Andreas Seidl, chief executive of the Audi Formula One 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 One.

“Audi stands for ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ and BP and Castrol also aspire to deliver the best technologies in the field of fuels and lubricants. This is a perfect match.

“It is a strong signal for Audi’s future F1 factory team that we have been able to establish this partnership at such an early stage. We sense the appeal of the Audi F1 Project and how many renowned companies want to work with Audi in Formula One.”

Coming next:

As Audi ramps up its entry ahead of 2026, expect to see more partnerships announced during the course of this Formula One season. Next up, the series heads to the Hungaroring for the Hungarian Grand Prix from 19th to 21st July.

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