As Motorsport.com Italia reports, Audi has shaken up the leadership of its Formula 1 power unit division by bringing in Thomas Fuhr as the new chief executive officer of Audi Formula Racing GmbH. The German manufacturer is laying down heavy groundwork to forge a serious contender for world titles by the year 2030, and this latest organizational shift is designed to reinforce the management of their engine project based in Neuburg. It is a notable reversal of strategy, seeing as Audi had previously dissolved this specific CEO role in the engine division at the start of 2025 following the departure of former chief executive Adam Baker.
Now, the German firm has secured a true veteran of the industry. Fuhr brings over 30 years of relevant experience to the machine, having notably served as the managing director of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains between 2009 and 2012. His resume also includes top-tier management positions at GROHE and LIXIL, alongside a stint as the chief technology officer at Georg Fischer Building Flow Solutions where he directed international engineering and manufacturing organizations.
We have built solide basi a Neuburg, developing from scratch the first Formula 1 power unit of Audi,
Under this new structure, Fuhr will take charge of the facility while working directly alongside the existing leadership group. This deliberate move allows Stefan Dreyer, the technical director, to pour all of his energy into driving the technical development of the Audi F1 power unit. Meanwhile, Christian Foyer, the chief operating officer for Audi, will press on with overseeing day-to-day operations at the Neuburg headquarters.
Mattia Binotto, CEO of Audi F1 and team principal, laid out the stakes behind the appointment. "We have built solide basi a Neuburg, developing from scratch the first Formula 1 power unit of Audi," Binotto stated. "Poiché Thomas comprende sia la sfida tecnica sia ciò che serve per costruire e guidare team altamente performanti, sono convinto che svolgerà un ruolo fondamentale nell’ulteriore sviluppo del gruppo e della sua organizzazione, aiutandoci a diventare il miglior costruttore di Formula 1. Non vedo l’rora di dargli il benvenuto nel team."
For his part, Fuhr expressed clear ambition about stepping into the project as the team prepares its power unit to debut this season. "Sono orgoglioso di entrare a far parte del progetto di Audi in Formula 1," Fuhr said. "La possibilità di contribuire a plasmare il futuro di Audi in questo sport è ciò che rende questa opportunità così entusiasmante. Il team di Neuburg ha sviluppato una power unit completamente nuova e l'ha portata in pista. Voglio dare continuità a questo lavoro, mettendo a sistema le competenze presenti in tutta l’organizzazione e creando le condizioni necessarie per competere ai massimi livelli."
