The 2026 Formula 1 season is effectively set to begin tomorrow. Until just a few hours ago, the first date circled on the calendar was January 15, when Red Bull and Racing Bulls were expected to run, but now, as reported by RacingNews365, engines will fire up even earlier, on Friday in Barcelona.
The new arrival Audi, which from this year will take over from Sauber, will carry out a test of its 2026 car tomorrow at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain.
As early as yesterday, the German giant confirmed that it had fired up its power unit for the first time. As a result, the car is now ready for its initial laps on the famous Spanish circuit. Although this will only be a functional test, carried out as part of one of the two filming days permitted for each team during the season, it is still considered extremely valuable given the radical changes introduced by the new regulations.
For the 2026 season, the cars will run with a 50-50 split between electrical energy and fuel, using 100% sustainable fuel. In addition, active aerodynamics will also play a key role and will need to be carefully evaluated during early running.
Under the regulations, Audi will be allowed to complete up to 200 kilometres of “testing”, equivalent to 42 laps, using special Pirelli tyres that are very different from those used during a Grand Prix weekend. The car will then make its official on-track debut during the first of the three pre-season tests, scheduled to take place from January 26 to January 30, once again at the Barcelona circuit.
In the meantime, Audi has also planned an official launch event in Berlin on January 20, where further details of its 2026 Formula 1 project are expected to be revealed.
As the first team to hit the tarmac under the new era, the focus be on the pit lane tomorrow to catch a glimpse of the four rings in action, marking a historic milestone for the Ingolstadt brand and the future of the sport.
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