The Audi R26 has been unveiled, previewing the brand’s foray into Formula 1 in March 2026. The company, which has a long history in motorsport, including rally and Le Mans, plans to enter F1 with its own chassis and power unit, taking over the Sauber entry.
Since making its commitment in 2022 to do so, the company has quietly been building its power unit base in Neuberg and enhancing Sauber’s headquarters in Switzerland where the chassis and race team will base its operations. Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg will join Audi as the squad’s driver line-up.
The duo were present when Audi CEO Gernot Dollner, head of the F1 project, Mattia Binotto, and team principal Jonathan Whatley, unveiled the R26 concept, revealing the vision for its foray into F1 at an event in Munich.
The R26 reveals the livery that they say, “provides a very distinct preview of the colour scheme and design of the brand’s first Formula 1 race car, which will be unveiled in January 2026.” The car is finished in titanium, carbon black, and Audi’s own shade of red, while the livery incorporates the iconic four rings, with a goal to create “the most striking car on the race track” when it lines up on the grid in 2026.
“Motorsport is part of the Audi DNA and has always been the driving force behind technological progress and innovation,” said Dollner. “By entering the pinnacle of motorsport, Audi is making a clear, ambitious statement. It is the next chapter in the company’s renewal. Formula 1 will be a catalyst for the change towards a leaner, faster and more innovative Audi.”
Fans of the World Rally Championship will remember the iconic Quattro, while Le Mans viewers would no doubt recall Audi’s dominance in the endurance race during the 2000s.
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