Audi F1 Car 2026: First Look & Details

Audi has officially presented its first Formula 1 single-seater, marking the beginning of its participation as a manufacturer in the World Championship, with the stated ambition of fighting for titles by 2030.

The reveal of the Audi R26 took place at an event in Berlin, although the first images of the car appeared in advance through links to the brand’s official website. Audi took over the structure previously known as Sauber, maintaining chassis construction at the Hinwil factory in Switzerland, while the new powertrain was entirely developed and produced in Neuberg, Germany.

The R26 has already completed its first kilometers on the track in a private test at the Circuit de Catalunya, around two weeks ago. In that session, Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto had their first contact with the new single-seater, beginning the project evaluation phase for Audi’s debut season in Formula 1.

The German brand is committed to a gradual approach, with the aim of getting closer to the front of the pack in the coming years, consolidating its presence in the top category of motorsport.

Team director Jonathan Wheatley said Audi cannot afford to be complacent and think that results will come automatically just because it is a major car manufacturer.

“We need to be realistic about our starting point and also humble about the challenge that lies ahead,” he said. “You don’t beat teams like Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes or McLaren simply by appearing like Audi Formula 1. That’s not how it works. You need a plan. Our plan is to become first challengers, then competitive and, finally, champions. It’s important to see this as a journey and for people to understand that journey.”

Audi R26 livery for 2026. 🖤

First official look at the visual identity of Audi’s Formula 1 era. pic.twitter.com/Oep8IplDbv

— Inside Audi F1 (@InsideAudiF1) January 20, 2026

Technical director James Key believes that Audi has what it takes to be successful in the long term.

When asked at the launch whether he thought the goal set for 2030 was realistic, he responded:

“Seeing the ambition behind the team and the plan that lies ahead, I like to believe that it is absolutely realistic. We are giving ourselves some time because we are realistic. We know that we don’t have everything in place yet and that we need to be at our best as quickly as possible. But we also recognize that all the teams are direct competitors to Audi. There is no longer a so-called ‘middle of the pack’. So we have to be there. And, naturally, we are analyzing what steps we need to take to give ourselves the best chance of achieving that goal. It’s a very clear ambition, not only on our part, but on the entire structure.”