(Motorsports news) The entry of top manufacturers like Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche into Formula 1 has been one of the motorsport’s worst kept secrets, with both car companies yet to officially announce their plans but according to rumours all three car manufacturers are close to entering F1. Audi’s F1 plans take shape as Sauber announcement looms amid growing indications that confirmation of their intentions for 2026 is now imminent. Audi may be the first major manufacturer to reveal its plans and could do so as early as this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

After months long of discussions to sort out a partner team, it is understood that an agreement is in place between Audi and the Sauber team, which is currently Alfa Romeo. Audi earlier had originally negotiated with McLaren about a takeover of team shares, having initially been in touch with the team and its owners through former McLaren racer Gerhard Berger. The talks between the McLaren's owners and the Bahrain sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat ultimately came to nothing. In the end, Sauber emerged as a vival target the preferred candidate following an evaluation of Aston Martin and Williams.

Discussions are now at an advanced talks with Sauber after its owner Finn Rausing previously rejected an offer from Michael Andretti to sell the team for a fee of 350 million euros at the end of 2021. It was suggested that Rausing insisted on the existence of the Sauber Group at the Hinwil site, the preservation of jobs of the current employees in the team and also demanded a further 250 million euros to be sure that the team was in safe hands. In the end, Andretti walked away because his terms were not accepted.

With Audi, Sauber is getting a strong partner who, according to rumours is prepared to pay more than Andretti for a smaller percentage of the company. Rausing still remains in the scheme of things as he is set to remain on board as a minority owner. There is also the promise to further develop Sauber as a factory team and work the same way as the Sauber-BMW partnership worked between 2006 and 2009. It's interesting to note that current Audi CEO Markus Duesmann has pushed the brand's F1 entry since he was the head of development at the BMW-Sauber team between 2007 and 2009 and he still knows the Hinwil operation from back then.

"I established the contact with McLaren," said the DTM boss. "McLaren would have been a candidate as a partner for Audi in Formula 1."

Also read: Porsche is signing a contract with Red Bull buying 50% of the stakes