- Audi has revealed its R26 racing car and team livery for the 2026 Formula 1 season at an event in Berlin.
- The R26 is powered by a 400kW 1.6-litre turbo V6 and a 400kW electric motor.
- The car will undergo its first official shakedown on the 26th of January.
Audi has officially revealed its factory Formula 1 team, the Audi Revolut F1 Team, at an event in Berlin yesterday evening. The unveiling included the first public appearance of the team's car, the Audi R26, and its official race livery.
The R26 features a hybrid power unit developed in Neuburg an der Donau, which consists of a 1.6-litre V6 turbo engine and an electric motor.
Formula 1 will enter its 77th season in 2026 with largely new technical regulations that represent the biggest upheaval in its history: the new cars will feature active aerodynamics with front and rear wings that can be adjusted while driving, while the previous Drag Reduction System (DRS) is being replaced by a ‘boost mode,’ that delivers maximum additional electric power at the push of a button for overtaking or defending.
With up to 350kW, the electric motor has almost as much power as the approximately 400kW 1.6-litre V6 turbo engine. In accordance with F1's new 2026 technical regulations, the R26 runs on sustainable fuels developed with partner BP.
The team’s driver lineup for the 2026 season includes Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, while leadership of the project is overseen by Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley and Mattia Binotto, Head of the Audi F1 Project. According to AUDI AG CEO Gernot Döllner, the entry into Formula 1 serves as a strategic flagship for the brand's technological and entrepreneurial realignment, operating within the racing series' established cost cap.
"Today, a lot of pieces of the puzzle are coming together," said Döllner at the team presentation.
"It’s impressive to see how the intensive preparation is paying off and the performance of those involved is becoming evident. For the first time, the full power of the project is on display. We are ready and excited to inspire people around the world by taking part in Formula 1."
The Audi R26 completed its first rollout in Spain on January 9th and the team is scheduled to conduct a shakedown in Barcelona from January 26 to 30, followed by official test sessions in Bahrain throughout February. The Audi Revolut F1 Team is set to make its competitive debut at the Australian Grand Prix on March 8, 2026.
