One of the teams under close observation during the opening days of pre-season testing in Bahrain was undoubtedly Audi. The German manufacturer arrived on track with a car completely redesigned compared to what had been seen just two weeks prior at Montmeló. Across the three days of testing, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto alternated at the wheel of the R26, executing a structured and linear testing program without major issues, providing confidence ahead of next week’s sessions and the start of the 2026 season.
Early impressions of the R26: “Bahrain presents different conditions compared to Barcelona, direction is clear”
The focus of the photographers at Sakhir during the first day of testing was on the R26, which appeared on track with a completely overhauled aerodynamic package, particularly around the sidepods. The new design philosophy drew inspiration from some historic cars, making this R26 markedly different from what had been seen in Audi’s first on-track runs in 2026. Over the three days, the R26 completed a total of 353 laps, leaving positive impressions for both drivers from the very first laps.
“Everything worked as we expected, which was really encouraging,” Gabriel Bortoleto commented after his first mileage in the Sakhir-spec R26. “We focused on doing a few laps to better understand the engine and energy deployment, especially under conditions very different from those we experienced in Barcelona. There is still a lot to do, and we know the road ahead is long, but we are making progress and will continue to push.”
For a team like Audi, the familiarization process with the new car is a crucial phase, particularly for a team that, while carrying forward Sauber’s legacy, is adapting to a new regulatory era with a fresh engine manufacturer under the hood. “We ran extensively and collected a lot of useful data, exactly what we are here for,” Nico Hulkenberg said after driving the Ingolstadt team’s car in Sakhir. “Bahrain is a very different circuit compared to Barcelona, bringing new challenges and showing us where we need to focus. There is still plenty to discover, but the direction is clear.”
Wheatley: “a week of progress, we covered 600 kilometres per day”
Positive impressions were echoed by Audi Revolut F1 Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley, who highlighted the car’s strong reliability over the first week of testing in Bahrain. “The three days of testing in Bahrain represented a productive and encouraging step forward for the team. We completed over 600 kilometres each day, a strong indicator of the car’s initial reliability and a testament to all the hard work and dedication behind the scenes.”
For the Four Rings squad, progress was also made in data acquisition and in consolidating operational procedures, areas critical for a team still relatively new to F1. “Beyond mileage, we collected valuable insights into the car’s behaviour and how our systems perform under realistic conditions. From an operational standpoint, this test was an important validation of our procedures, and we saw clear improvements in communication, execution, and team coordination.”
Attention now shifts to the final week of testing before the team travels to Australia for the opening Grand Prix. “The next phase involves recovery, fine-tuning, and ensuring we are fully prepared for the remaining test days. There is still work to do, but the foundations we are building now will be essential for the season ahead.”
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