Boardroom power shift moves VW closer to F1

[F1 Dream Team]

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/bo...closer-to-f1/?

Internal boardroom power struggle deep within the VW Group appears to have positioned one of its brands closer to a Formula 1 entry in 2018.

Ferdinand Piech – the 78-year-old chief of the Volkswagen Group – has been effectively shunned by the VW Executive Committee of the Supervisory Board, which has recommended that CEO Martin Winterkorn (pictured left) be offered a new extensive and long-term contract from 2016 onward.

This comes after Piech was believed to be orchestrating the removal of his former favourite from the company, and an emergency meeting was called last week to resolve the internal power struggle.

Piech will have to relinquish his role as chairman of the VW Executive Committee of the Supervisory Board in 2017. The boardroom shift could see plans set in motion for a new decision making processes that could see the VW Group restructure its motorsport programme in the coming 18 months.

Winterkorn took over as CEO of VW Group from Bernd Pischetsrieder in 2007. Prior to that, he had worked as Chairman of the Board at Audi AG, and was a big supporter of its racing projects in sportscars and the DTM. Winterkorn has overseen the expansion and growth of VW Group in recent years to further enhance its status as the leader of EU automakers.

Piech, a member of the Porsche family who strategically moved the ailing brand upmarket from its 1990s doldrums, recently criticized Winterkorn for VW's poor performance in the USA.

VW is made up of several shareholders, with Porsche Holdings SE owning the leading percentage. The rest of the board is made up of unknown and private shareholders: Qatar Holding LLC, led by Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, plus the State of Lower Saxony and other German industrial investors.

Why F1 move is on the radar

The VW Group has long been rumoured to be looking at a Formula 1 entry with one of its brands. Audi is widely understood to be the most likely to undertake an F1 programme, but Motorsport.com understands that Suzuki and Bugatti have also undertaken feasibility studies in recent years.

Audi last year employed three key ex-F1 staff members. They were ex-Ferrari F1 team team principal Stefano Domenicali, former BMW and Williams engineer Jorg Zander and Gabriele Delicolli, who is a former Ferrari simulator specialist.

In 2011 Wolfgang Durheimer, director Bentley and Bugatti, told German magazine Auto Motor Und Sport that “if [the VW group] is at the forefront of the auto industry, I can imagine us competing in Formula 1 in 2018. We have enough brands to pull it off.”

An end to VW's 'personality issue'

The main stumbling block to this previously has been the fact that Piech did not like F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, and despite the two having only met on fleeting formal occasions there appears to be a mutual dislike between the two on a personal basis.

However, Ecclestone said during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend that he would step down if Audi demanded it as a condition to enter F1.

The VW Group currently structures its racing successfully around the thriving World Endurance Championship (Audi and Porsche), the World Rally Championship, Rallycross and F3 (VW) and GT racing (Bentley and Lamborghini). It produces road cars under the brands Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, Skoda and VW.

VW also owns the Bundesliga team VF Wolfsburg, where the company is based and was a sponsor of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

[GrndLkNatv]

Look for Stefano Domenicali to re-appear here shortly... AUDI F1.

[The Architect]

Next step will be to demand 1.1 litre V4 engines? Fewer manufacturers are needed, not more.

[cokata]

Next step will be to demand 1.1 litre V4 engines? Fewer manufacturers are needed, not more.

Lol

[shamim179]

VW is one to watch. The ducks are all lining up in favor their entry into Formula 1. With the uncertainty hanging around Renault, F1 could use some more manufacturers. More manufacturers means more competition. It remains to be seen whether they will start a new team from scratch but my gut feeling is that Red Bull will sell up and VW will pick up the pieces unless Renault suddenly become extremely competitive this year.

[Nova]

Now thats a ringer there..RB selling to VW...Would RB even consider
such a thing? Stranger things have happened.

[Rob]

Look for Stefano Domenicali to re-appear here shortly... AUDI F1.

I still can not see Audi coming into F1. They have no real reason too, Sportscars/GTs and DTM do enough "marketing" their brand/cars and road technology.

[Ed Harley]

Their possible F1 entry would not have to be Audi as the Volkswagen group has other brands to choose from as follows:

- Bentley
- Bugatti
- Lamborghini
- Porsche
- SEAT
- Škoda
- Volkswagen

[aroutis]

Exactly, and the top 4 are all candidates.

[The Architect]

Lol

What benefits do you see in more manufacturers entering F1?

[ManFromMilan]

What benefits do you see in more manufacturers entering F1?

More fans from more manufacturers(yes people do support other brands however daft that may be) equal a healthier sport. We know Ferrari is the first name in motorsport, but they are not the only one.

[wisepie]

I'm not sure I can imagine a Skoda F1 car, even though I drive a very rapid one! We do need more manufacturers to get involved, that's one way of keeping the competition and the finances on track, and possibly saving F1 from extinction. If Renault goes and Honda ends up failing with Mclaren (probably unlikely), there will be a shortage of power units and what happens then is anyone's guess. And Bernie wants to scrap all the decent circuits by charging them too much to promote a race.......very worrying.

[Stormy]

Well it looks like this hybrid engines are actually good for F1. Manufacturers are up to participating in order the keep up and test their technology. Hybrid engines are the future and F1 its all about the future.

[The Architect]

I still fail to see any benefits of manufacturers signing up. F1 has never been especially relevant to standard road car tech. Manufacturers aren't interested in F1 or racing; they're only in it for the PR and positive headlines. That means making excuses for quiet engines and (in Pirelli's case) artificial tyre degradation. I'd rather see a Formula for the survival of the fastest without all the feel good road car marketing gimmicks and cars that need to be driven by men and not teenagers. Manufacturers should head to WEC, which is far more relevant. Their involvement diminishes F1.

As for VW, Piech has stood down, so we'll have to see who takes his place. It may be another duck lining up an F1 entry.

[FranksterGM]

Oh man, please not VW, they have no history or cachet.
Ford come back... or GM (I wish)

[TigerKing]

If Audi makes their return, it would be fitting for historical purposes just as Mercedes had done. Audi (or Auto Union in the past) was a dominating force in pre-FIA Formula One. Also, more manufacturers mean better competition for engine pricing for the customer teams making the overall engine prices lower. Also, more diversity is always welcome because we dont always want the race to be won by either a merc engine or ferrari (although in the long run Ferrari has to win the WCC!).

[Stormy]

And the good thing that will happen if Audi comes to F1 is that Bernie stated he will retire if that happens. Win-Win situation.
I doubt he will retire until his death but still...a man can hope.

[TigerKing]

And the good thing that will happen if Audi comes to F1 is that Bernie stated he will retire if that happens. Win-Win situation.
I doubt he will retire until his death but still...a man can hope.

[Senna4Ever]

And the good thing that will happen if Audi comes to F1 is that Bernie stated he will retire if that happens. Win-Win situation.
I doubt he will retire until his death but still...a man can hope.

Go on VW you can do it!!!!!



It would draw a smile on my face - which happens not very often ...
even AUDI recently addressed again that they haven't any intention to come back in the near future ... they are happy with WTC and they are well recognized on the market as a strong brand also without being in F1 ... but maybe the fear from Mr. Piech was bigger than those PR releases ...

The hint with RB selling to VW is also not bad ... Didi knows that the fat years are over and this was one time opportunity to shine, maybe stay as a sponsor and now bye bye ... where Mr. Evil Marko can start working on managing his real estates in and around Graz....