Audi has not yet allowed its drivers to test the 2026 car in the simulator. Here’s why
Formula 1 teams are already investing huge resources into the 2026 season, preparing cars that must comply with the brand-new technical regulations. The goal is to have the machines ready in time for the official four-day shakedown scheduled at Montmeló in Barcelona at the end of next January. Yet, despite this crucial preparation phase, Audi has not given Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto the chance to test its future car on the simulator.
Other drivers are already testing the 2026 cars
The news made headlines during the Zandvoort weekend, when Nico Hulkenberg openly admitted that he had not yet tried the new Audi on the simulator. This revelation stood out, especially since many of his Formula 1 colleagues have already been working virtually with their 2026 machines for months. For example, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Williams driver Alexander Albon have both been among the first to provide feedback on the new-generation cars and how they will behave on track.
Sauber, soon to officially become Audi, has decided to take a different approach. The project is currently identified internally as the C46, and so far, neither Hulkenberg nor Bortoleto has been tasked with simulator sessions. To clarify the situation, Sauber’s sporting director Inaki Rueda outlined the reasons behind this decision.
The logistical challenge
“There are two very important aspects,” Rueda explained. “The first one is related to the calendar. It is extremely difficult to guarantee drivers enough time for simulator sessions.”
He gave a clear example of the difficulties: “Ideally, before a race, a driver should be able to dedicate a full day to simulation work. For instance, Nico was at the simulator last Friday and Gabi on Monday, but they had to divide that time between Zandvoort and Monza. When you look at the calendar, you quickly realise how complex it becomes to find suitable slots. If we say, ‘Okay, now we want to start working on the C46, which is our car for next year,’ the question is: where do we fit this in? It’s very hard to solve from a scheduling perspective.”
The technical reason for the delay
Rueda also emphasised the technical side of the issue: “How realistic is our C46 model today? It’s still under heavy development, and with the new rules, progress is extremely rapid. We already know the date when we will finally allow our drivers to test it, but I cannot reveal it yet. What I can say is that we don’t want to start too early because the car could still be very different from what they will actually drive in 2026.”
According to Rueda, the team wants to avoid a scenario where Hulkenberg and Bortoleto spend time adapting to a version of the car that will later turn out to be significantly different. This is why Audi is carefully timing the introduction of simulator sessions for its drivers.
First simulator test planned before November
With September approaching and no traditional long winter break ahead, the pressure to begin simulator work is increasing. When asked when Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto would finally test the 2026 car virtually, Rueda was clear: “The car is developing quickly. We will test it before November. A part of me hopes it won’t be too representative yet, because that would mean we are still pushing development further. But the plan is to have both drivers experience the C46 in the simulator before November, while the evolution will continue afterwards.”
This approach shows Audi’s cautious but ambitious strategy as it prepares for its full-scale Formula 1 entry. While other teams are already providing feedback on their 2026 projects, Audi is focusing on ensuring that when Hulkenberg and Bortoleto do get behind the wheel of the C46 in the simulator, they will be working with a model that is as close as possible to the final version.
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