Audi Reveals Their First Ever F1 Car For The 2026 Season

The team hosted its launch event in Berlin, Germany, the country of its origin. They chose to host their event at Kraftwerk Berlin, a historic power station in the heart of Berlin.

Audi first announced their entry into F1 in 2022. Four years later, the team will make its debut in Australia, powered by its own power unit. They're making their own power unit, which is a significant choice, as a lot of the current grid doesn’t make its own. Team members at Audi have explained this as them controlling every variable to build the most competitive car they can.

Gernot Dollner has described this launch as a “new era for Audi,” mentioning how F1 is the most competitive and demanding series of motorsport. He mentions how the project is representative of a change for the entire company to become more focused on performance, efficiency, and innovation.

The car features a streamlined design, with the majority of the body constructed from titanium, complemented by carbon fiber highlights and orange-red accents. The initial R26 design was first previewed at an event in Munich last November. The overall look is sleek, aligning with the team's design philosophy.

We will see the R26 in action on track when the team heads to Barcelona for Shakedown week, starting January 26th. We got a peek at the car itself when they ran a blacked-out spec car for a filming day earlier this January.

The Audi F1 project was headed by Mattia Binotto, who had previously been team principal at Ferrari, before being replaced by Fred Vasseur. The German team definitely seemed to prioritize bringing people on board who have experience in the woTeam members.

Many of the core team members are staying the same as they were when the team was Sauber. Jonathan Wheatley became team principal at Sauber last season and will remain in the role through the transitions.   

Also staying the same are the drivers, Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg. Both are promising drivers that will be helpful in the transition. Bortoleto completed his first season in F1 in 2025 and put up impressive results in a car that the year prior got no points at all. Hulkenberg is also a talented driver and is a veteran, as he has been in the sport since 2011, and he also had an incredible season, achieving his first career podium.