Cyclingflash
Specialized enters Formula 1 as bike partner of Audi Revolut F1 Team

Specialized enters Formula 1 as bike partner of Audi Revolut F1 Team

Specialized has announced a multi-year partnership with the Audi Revolut F1 Team. The brand will become the official bike and e-bike supplier of the Formula 1 team. As part of the deal, Specialized will provide a complete fleet of bikes: the Tarmac for performance and fitness, and the Vado 3 e-bike for transport around the circuits and at the headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland. The deal was announced with a striking image: an S-Works Tarmac in the colors of the Audi Revolut F1 livery.

Whether this will also come in a limited edition has not yet been confirmed, but Specialized clearly hints at more. "There will be some very cool collaborations," the brand said in the press release.

Not new, but different
The connection between cycling and F1 is not a new phenomenon. Riders often appear in the paddock, and several drivers are avid cyclists. Valtteri Bottas (now a driver for Cadillac) participates in gravel races and even qualified for the 2024 Gravel World Championship. Carlos Sainz Jr. (driver at Williams Racing) is a close friend of Tadej Pogacar, with whom he regularly trains on the bike in and around Monaco. After Milan-Sanremo, the Spaniard had the honor of presenting the trophy to Pogacar on the podium.

Collaboration between bike brands and Formula 1 teams is also historically familiar. In 2011 Specialized developed the legendary Venge together with McLaren, and Colnago partnered with Ferrari’s composite division for its CF1. The difference is that those collaborations had a strong technical component. The current deal with Audi seems more focused on branding and logistics rather than joint product development.

Shared DNA
Both parties emphasize the similarities in brand values. Armin Landgraf, CEO of Specialized: "We share the same obsession: relentless innovation and uncompromising performance." Stefano Battiston, Chief Commercial Officer of the F1 team, adds that top performance in Formula 1 is impossible without peak physical condition for the entire team, and Specialized plays a key role in this.

The Audi Revolut F1 Team will make its debut as a constructor in Formula 1 in 2026. The team is the successor to Sauber, founded in 1993.