FÓRMULA-1

Audi Formula Racing GmbH presents itself to the media worldwide

Adam Baker, CEO of the newly created Audi Formula Racing GmbH and Director of the Formula 1 Project, chose Madrid as the setting for his first worldwide media intervention. The German engineer of Australian origin explained the steps to follow until the debut of the brand with four rims in the premier class of motorsport.

On the 26th of August, coinciding with the Spa-Francorchamps Formula 1 Grand Prix held in Belgium, Audi announced its entry into the FIA ​​Formula 1 World Championship from 2026. A project that is already underway, and which will be based at Audi Sport's facilities in Neuburg an der Donau, near Ingolstadt. Adam Baker visited Madrid to offer the first press round since his appointment as CEO of Audi Formula Racing GmbH and Audi Project Director for Formula 1.

At an event where some of the most emblematic models of Audi Sport, both racing and production, were the protagonists, and which could not miss the single-seater in Audi colors presented at Spa, José Miguel Aparicio, Director of Audi Spain, wanted to thank Adam Baker for attending: “I would like to express our thanks to Adam Baker for being here today. Its first appearance in front of the media reflects the importance that Audi has for the Spanish market”. Aparício also highlighted: “We want to continue progressing through technology through unique experiences, and competition has always been in our DNA. Closed-road World Rally and Pikes Peak, off-road Dakar Rally, endurance and sprint races on circuits such as the WEC and Le Mans or the DMT… With the entry of Formula 1, we will be the only premium manufacturer that has competed in all the categories. Adam is an expert in Formula 1, the ideal person to develop our project over the next three and a half years.”

For his part, Adam Baker particularly highlighted the reasons that led Audi to become involved in the premier motorsport category: “It is a very attractive project and at the same time ambitious. Formula 1 is making an effort to advance in terms of efficiency and sustainability, values ​​that fit with our brand strategy. Furthermore, F1 is a fantastic marketing and communication platform, the ideal competition for Audi to show its technical skills to an international audience in the most interesting markets, with new generations of young fans showing their passion for this competition. We want to be part of this transformation of Formula 1.”

About the next steps that the Ingolstadt brand will face in the Formula 1 project, Baker explains: “We have already started with the development of the propulsion system, and for the rest we continue looking for compromise solutions, because the complete technical regulation will only be published in 2024. , when we will be able to see everything in relation to the chassis. Our plans include starting circuit tests in mid-2025, probably in Spain. But our entire schedule is still in the draft stage right now.”

Adam Baker also explained how Audi faces such an important challenge: “We recognize the scale of the challenge. Our advantage over other manufacturers who have tried before without success is that we have plenty of time to prepare, and that the regulations start a new cycle, the biggest change F1 will experience in modern times. To win in this competition you need to be more innovative than the competition, but with some fixed costs. That is why it is also necessary to innovate in other concepts: financial, strategic, logistical… We have a very solid financial plan designed for the long term, and we know that having an ideal partner will be essential to think about success. Our aim is to be in a position to win races in the third year.”

The person responsible for the Audi Project for Formula 1 also explained that, initially, the work started with 130 people from Audi Sport's technical staff, with the aim of quickly building a team that will be formed by more than 300 members. Baker also pointed out the technology transfer that could take place between Formula 1 and Audi's production cars: “High efficiency, high voltage storage systems, new generation combustion engine, alternative fuels…. F1 will be an important test bed to continue moving towards decarbonisation. And we have a process that will allow this transfer to happen quickly.”

Biography of Adam Baker...Born in Australia in 1974, Adam Baker has been a German citizen since 2018. In 1997 he graduated in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Swinburne (Australia), and in 1999 he graduated in Law at the University of Melbourne, also in your home country.

Between 1998 and 2000, Adam Baker worked as an engineer in automobile development at Holden, Australia, before moving on to motor racing three years later. As an engine and systems engineer, he supported Infiniti's official teams and customers at Indycar in the United States. Between 2002 and 2005 he worked as an engine engineer for the Formula 1 engine manufacturer Cosworth, assigned to client teams such as Arrows (2002), Jordan (2003) and later the Jaguar Official Team (2004). In early 2005, he became the engine manager for one of his client teams, Minardi.

In mid-season he joined BMW Motorsport as engine engineer for the Williams F1 team, and later for Sauber F1, before becoming head of the BMW F1 powertrain in 2007. After holding various positions between 2010 and 2013, Baker was responsible until 2018 for all races and test programs at BMW Motorsport, including the Formula E, WEC, IMSA, DTM, GT3 and GT4 championships.

Prior to joining Audi in 2021, where he developed the technical, strategic, operational and financial concept for the brand's first foray into the Formula 1 World Championship, Adam Baker served as Director of Safety for the FIA ​​(Federation Internationale de Motor Sport), with responsibility for the development and implementation of new technical and operational solutions for the prevention of serious and fatal injuries in motorsport.

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