Audi unveils livery for debut season in F1
Around 400 people were in attendance as Audi showcased the livery of its challenger, team clothing and driver overalls ahead of the team’s debut season in Formula 1.
The event in Berlin marked the first official public appearance for the Audi F1 team, which acquired the previous Sauber F1 team and rebranded for the 2026 season. The German giants also signed a multi-year deal with British financial technology company Revolut to become the team’s title sponsor.
Audi’s R26 challenger will contain an ‘AFR 26 Hybrid’ power unit developed at its Neuburg an der Donau facility, which was tested for the first time before Christmas. Further testing took place in early January at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.
The upcoming Formula 1 season represents a new era for the sport, with regulation changes likely to shake up the field.
Cars will be 30kg lighter, 10cm narrower and feature active aerodynamics with front and rear wings that can be adjusted while driving. The previous Drag Reduction System (DRS) will be replaced by a ‘boost mode’ which gives a maximum addition of electrical power at the push of a button.
The hybrid cars will combine a 350kW electric motor with a 1.6 litre V6 turbo engine, which runs on sustainable fuel, with Audi working exclusively with British company BP on this particular aspect.
Who is in team Audi?
Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will continue to be teammates, having been Sauber’s driving duo in 2025.
Jonathan Wheatley will serve as team principal, bringing over 30 years of motorsport experience and contributing to eight World Constructors’ Championship titles between 1995 and 2003. The 58 year old’s previous roles include sporting director at Red Bull, chief mechanic at Benetton and Renault.
Former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has served as Head of Audi F1 Project since 2025, where he is responsible for development activities at the Hinwil and Neuburg an der Donau facilities, as well as at the future technical centre in England.
What next for Audi?
Audi will head to Barcelona from January 26 — 30 for a shakedown of the new generation F1 cars, before travelling to Bahrain for official test sessions in February. The test laps from February 11–13 and 18–20 will be the R26’s last chance to refine things before the team’s F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Audi