A statement from the German car company said the Gulf state would buy a “significant minority” in the team, which is entering F1 in 2026. The deal will be completed next year, after Audi has taken full ownership of the Sauber team that is the basis for its entry.

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the Gulf country's estimated $510 billion sovereign wealth fund, has signed binding agreements to buy a significant minority stake in Audi's Formula 1 team, the fund and carmaker said on Friday.