Audi will unveil its new livery today, becoming the fourth 2026 Formula 1 car to be revealed, in an event taking place in Berlin. Here is what time it starts and where fans can follow the presentation.
It is Audi’s turn today, 20 January, as the German manufacturer will showcase its new car for the 2026 season with the official race livery, following the R26 concept that was shown back in November. For Audi, this represents a historic milestone, marking its official entry into Formula 1 through the Sauber team, which will contest its final race under its current identity at the end of the 2025 season.
After revealing the concept livery and announcing its partnership with Revolut, which will act as the team’s title sponsor, Audi immediately made its intentions clear, underlining its determination to approach this new challenge with ambition and long-term vision.
Mattia Binotto, head of the Audi F1 project, said: “This announcement gives a name and a face to the extraordinary work the team is carrying out. The squad is taking shape, driven by a culture of precision and relentless ambition. The Berlin launch will be the first moment in which we present ourselves as a united collective and invite our global fanbase to join us as we look ahead to our debut in 2026.”
The Audi R26 has already run on track
The Audi team was the first to take a 2026 car out on track. This took place in Spain, where pre-season testing will begin in the coming days, during a shakedown in which the R26 completed its initial laps without encountering any issues.
The car seen in the images, which will be driven by Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, does not reveal any significant technical details. The shakedown was solely aimed at checking the correct operation of the various systems rather than exploring performance.
Where to watch the presentation
Audi will hold the presentation in Berlin, with fans able to follow the event live on the team’s official social media channels and on the Audi website from 19:00 Italian time. Viewers will be shown a non-final render, used exclusively to present the new livery.
To see the definitive version of the car, which will differ from the one briefly seen in Barcelona, fans will need to wait for the pre-season tests in Bahrain or for the opening race of the season in Melbourne.
As the F1 world watches Berlin today, the arrival of a major manufacturer like Audi adds a new layer of excitement to the upcoming 2026 regulations. While today’s event focuses on the “look” of the team, the underlying technical progress suggests that Audi is ready to be a serious contender. This launch is more than just a marketing exercise; it is the official start of a journey that many hope will see the Four Rings fighting for podiums in the very near future.
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