Audi Offers First Glimpse at F1 Car for 2026 Season
With a shiny collection of trophies accumulated in the World Endurance Championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula E, the Dakar Rally, and all the other motorsport adventures Audi has embarked on over the years, expectations are high for the manufacturer on the eve of its entry into the Formula 1 championship.
“We're not entering Formula 1 just to make an appearance. We want to win. At the same time, we know that you don't become a top team in Formula 1 overnight. It takes time, perseverance, and constantly questioning the status quo. By 2030, we want to be fighting for the world championship title," said Audi President and CEO Gernot Döllner at the unveiling of the brand's first Formula 1 concept in Munich, Germany, 115 days before its first race.
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The Car Guide was present to take a look at the Concept R26, the single-seater that heralds Audi's participation in the 2026 Formula 1 championship.
In-house Powertrain Development
The acquisition of the Sauber group in Switzerland, combined with the necessary financing from Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, which is joining as a partner, has provided Audi with the necessary gateway to the series.
At the helm of the Audi F1 project are two well-known names in the sport: former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley (formerly with Red Bull). The two current Sauber drivers, Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, will wear the four-ring emblem for the 2026 season.
Audi will obviously be entering the race armed with its own, in-house developed powertrain. The 1.6-liter V6 in question has been in development since spring 2022 in the development workshops in Neuburg an der Donau. It is turbocharged according to the rules and accompanied by an energy recovery system (ERS) and an electric motor (MGU-K). The development center, which joins Sauber's existing workshops in Switzerland and a new technology center in Bicester, England, is also responsible for developing the gearbox that will accompany the engine.
Electrification is becoming increasingly important in Formula 1, with the electric motor providing up to 50% of the powertrain's total power. However, the combustion engine still serves as the technical base. And from 2026, it will have to be powered by fully renewable fuel, or e-fuel, requiring teams to set up a separate development program.
Audi claims to have been working on developing such a fuel that meets the series' criteria in collaboration with oil company BP since 2022.
The spearhead of Audi's new identity
With growing popularity fueled by a whole new audience acquired through the Netflix series Drive to Survive, Formula 1 is becoming an increasingly attractive platform for manufacturers looking to strengthen their brand recognition.
In Audi's case, the aim is also to showcase the brand's new colors to a wide range of buyers, beyond just performance enthusiasts. Finally, the benefits of developing new technologies are significant, as they offer spin-offs for the participating manufacturer's production vehicles.
The future Audi F1 team will make its public debut in January when the final versions of the race cars are officially unveiled. The first tests will take place behind closed doors at the end of January in Barcelona, Spain. The manufacturer has scheduled public testing in Bahrain from February 11 to 13 and February 18 to 20 before taking part in the first race of the calendar in Melbourne, Australia, from March 6 to 8.