Audi is already on track in Barcelona with the R26 for the 2026 Formula 1 season: a filming day for the German team as it awaits the official presentation.
Audi is moving ahead of schedule. The R26 for the 2026 Formula 1 season is already on track in Barcelona. The German manufacturer, which officially takes over from Sauber, is in Spain for an initial test of its first-ever Audi-built Power Unit. This filming day allows the Neuburg-based factory to gather its first real feedback after many years of development. The car will be officially presented on 20 January in Berlin.
First images of a new-generation car
While fans and enthusiasts are waiting for the official 2026 car launches, surrounded by more or less realistic renders and early liveries, the Four Rings have decided to act early. Although the official presentation of the car is scheduled for 20 January in Berlin, the German team has already flown to Barcelona for a first on-track outing with the brand-new Audi R26.
The German car will be the first Formula 1 single-seater to carry the Audi name in the modern era, following the completion of the Sauber acquisition. In the 2026 season, it will be driven by Gabriel Bortoleto, one of the most highly rated rookies of last year, alongside experienced driver Nico Hülkenberg. Spain hosts the team’s first filming day of the season: 200 kilometres dedicated to evaluating initial parameters and the correct functioning of the Power Unit, with no specific focus on aerodynamic performance.
The first F1 car of 2026: what changes compared to 2025
The new technical regulations introduce a wide range of changes. The cars are shorter, narrower and lighter, a direction aimed at improving on-track racing and overall spectacle. The power units also evolve, with a reduced internal combustion component in favour of a much stronger electric contribution. Active aerodynamics is introduced as well, including the new “overtake mode”, which is set to play a key role in racing dynamics.
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