Audi Invests in Swiss Campus for Formula 1 Team

Audi has confirmed a significant infrastructure investment to establish a new operational campus in Hinwil, Switzerland, for its Formula 1 team. Partial operations at the site began in mid-2026, with the full project slated for completion in 2030. This investment follows Audi’s full acquisition of the team in January 2025, aiming to address historical underinvestment in the facility's technical capabilities.

Hinwil Site Centralizes F1 Efforts

The project involves modernizing existing wind tunnel and manufacturing assets at the Hinwil base, which previously operated with constrained budgets under prior ownership. This strategic move maintains a bifurcated operational structure, with engine development remaining at Audi's Neuburg, Germany, facility and a satellite office continuing its function in Bicester, UK.

Long-Term Strategy for Talent

The establishment of the Hinwil campus is intended to centralize technical operations, foster collaboration, and improve talent retention within the team. By creating a purpose-built environment, Audi aims to stabilize its competitive standing and integrate its workforce more effectively, following years marked by ownership transitions and operational uncertainty.

Mattia Binotto, Audi CEO and team principal, stated the campus will be crucial for attracting and retaining world-class talent, providing the necessary foundation to achieve the team's long-term ambitions in Formula 1.

Historical Investment Gaps Addressed

The Hinwil facility, originally founded by Peter Sauber in 1970, has a long history in Formula 1, including a period under BMW ownership. After BMW's departure in 2009, the team operated on a comparatively limited budget, necessitating substantial investment in infrastructure, including the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) cluster and the wind tunnel, to bring them to current Formula 1 standards. This new investment directly addresses those long-standing needs.