It's the rumor that just won't go away.
The rumor that Audi intends to buy McLaren won't go away. A new report on the German website Automobilwoche now states that Audi has increased its offer.
We first reported on this matter in November, after which McLaren quickly sent a statement saying that the rumors were false.
"McLaren Group is aware of a news media report stating it has been sold to Audi. This is wholly inaccurate and McLaren is seeking to have the story removed. McLaren's technology strategy has always involved ongoing discussions and collaboration with relevant partners and suppliers, including other carmakers, however, there has been no change in the ownership structure of the McLaren Group."
It was a fair statement, and we published it soon after our original article went live.
Three days later, the rumor surfaced again. The new rumors came from Reuters, citing two separate sources, both confirming a discussion of a partnership between Audi and McLaren.
It seemed as if Audi was interested in McLaren's Formula 1 division, which would be an easy way to enter the sport once the new regulations come into play in 2026.
We know Audi is switching over to electric vehicles much faster than most manufacturers, and having its name connected to the most advanced motorsport could undoubtedly help the marketing department. Audi will compete with batteries in Dakar, Le Mans, and Formula 1.
That's quite a statement.
According to Automobilwoche, Audi has increased its original offer from $497 million to $719 million. This is just for a stake in the Formula 1 team, but Audi will likely want to make a move on the road car division at some point in the future. Since the R8 won't be replaced, a piece of the road car division will make it easier for Audi to release a possible replacement.
Months ago, McLaren's CEO, Zak Brown, denied his company was for sale, but he did admit to meeting with Audi. That's already a little bit of smoke, and we're expecting a fire to come along shortly.
We know that the Volkswagen overlords have already given Porsche and Audi the go-ahead to invest in Formula 1. Porsche is tied to Red Bull, while Audi intends to partner with McLaren, despite having a relatively poor 2022 season.
It doesn't matter, however. We'll only see the results of this rumored partnership in 2026 when the cars will be completely different.
McLaren has yet to comment on this new round of rumors.
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