Audi experienced a complex but extremely valuable debut during the Barcelona tests. Several issues, including a hydraulic leak, limited the programme, but pre-season testing exists precisely to identify the areas that require the most work. Mattia Binotto spoke of a long list of items to address, while also viewing it as a positive sign for a project that is still in its early stages.
When a completely new project is launched with very few previous reference points, the scale of the challenge can quickly turn into a mountain to climb. This is exactly the situation Audi currently finds itself in. While the team can rely on the structural legacy of Sauber, from a power unit perspective this represents the first true programme for the manufacturer from Ingolstadt, with all the inevitable teething problems that come with it.
Although the reliability of the new power units has been positively surprising, especially in light of the concerns voiced ahead of the tests, Audi cannot rely on the experience accumulated by other manufacturers during the previous technical cycle. Mercedes, for example, exceeded the 500-lap mark over three days, even surpassing the mileage achieved during last season’s tests with a now well-developed and mature project.
For this very reason, it is hardly surprising that the German manufacturer encountered a few obstacles along the way during these first tests. On the opening day, the Audi R26 spent a significant amount of time in the garage, also due to a precautionary stop on track involving Gabriel Bortoleto.
Some technical issues resurfaced on the second day as well, when a hydraulic leak stopped the car while Nico Hülkenberg was at the wheel. However, testing is precisely the opportunity to identify these weak points and understand where improvements are needed.
As had already happened during the filming day, when Audi was the first team to take to the track in Barcelona to get an early start on data collection, the Spanish tests also served primarily as a proving ground to evaluate the reliability of the new power unit, rather than to focus extensively on car set-up work. Clearly, the team would have preferred to be further along in its programme, as in the case of Mercedes, but the objective of this phase had been clearly defined from the outset.
“First of all, I would say it is exciting, because this is Audi’s very first official test in Formula 1. For us, it is the beginning, so to speak, of our experience as a team and as a power unit manufacturer. I would say there is a huge amount to learn, and we are learning a great deal,” explained Mattia Binotto, who is leading this ambitious project.
“If you look at the first day, we had many problems that stopped us or slowed down our work programme. The same happened on the second day, but I would say that from yesterday afternoon onwards we managed to run more. Even this morning, I believe, we had a few issues again: we are learning, but we have still put together some mileage, some laps, and gathered valuable data for the team. The more laps we do, the more we learn, and I think we are exactly in that phase right now.”
“We also know that there is still a lot to build for us, a lot to develop and grow. That said, these three days of on-track activity have been extremely important. Considering where we are in our journey, we are doing quite well. Reliability is always a crucial aspect: we have had several issues, small ones, nothing dramatic, and even from this point of view there are many positive elements when looking ahead.”
On the morning of the final day, Gabriel Bortoleto completed 64 laps, almost the full distance of a Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This offered the team the opportunity to gather a significant amount of data, useful both for the engineers and for the drivers. Once the tests are completed, both the Brazilian driver and Nico Hülkenberg will return to the factory to work in the simulator, comparing their on-track sensations with those from the virtual environment.
There is still a great deal to learn about how these cars operate and about the behaviour of the new power unit: when it enters the recharge phase, how to manage energy deployment, and where to intervene under braking without excessively compromising corner entry.
It is no coincidence that, based on what emerged in Barcelona, several drivers struggled particularly under braking, often locking up the wheels. This remains an exploratory phase of the project, and every kilometre completed in Spain becomes valuable in order to begin working on fine-tuning the car’s settings.
“It is a huge job, a huge job for the whole team, a huge job for the drivers, for the engineers back at the factory who have to fix all the problems, from design to operations, everything that we have identified,” Mattia Binotto added.
At the dawn of a technical revolution, it is natural that, especially for a manufacturer embarking on its first true project, there is a long list of aspects to address and resolve ahead of Bahrain. There, some teams will already begin to place reliability slightly in the background, shifting their focus towards set-up work in order to evaluate the car’s potential and understand how to make aerodynamics and tyres work together more effectively.
“For us, this really means leaving nothing to chance: every detail has to be managed and corrected. We have a very long list, a really very long list, I have never seen one this long. But, once again, I think it is positive, because the team is truly involved, eager to improve and to arrive in Bahrain in better shape.”
Audi’s first official steps in Formula 1 reflect the immense scale of the 2026 challenge, where identifying weaknesses early is just as important as setting fast times. By embracing a “massive list” of technical hurdles now, Mattia Binotto and his team are laying the groundwork for the R26 to evolve into a competitive platform. As the focus shifts to the official pre-season tests in Bahrain, the data harvested in Barcelona will be the catalyst for the rapid development required for Audi to find its footing among the sport’s elite manufacturers.
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