It is going from bad to worse for Audi: during the Barcelona tests, the R26 came to a halt on track both with Gabriel Bortoleto and with Nico Hulkenberg behind the wheel.
Formula 1 teams are currently carrying out a general shakedown at the Catalan circuit to run the new 2026 cars for the first time. For Audi, several alarm bells have started ringing in terms of reliability, as the R26 has encountered multiple issues over the two days of testing in Barcelona.
Monday marked the seasonal debut of Gabriel Bortoleto, who was unable to complete the planned programme after stopping on track during the morning session. Audi are making their Formula 1 debut this season, and early teething problems are to be expected in a completely new project. The German manufacturer still has time available to resolve any issues related to the power unit. During these tests, Audi still have one full day of running left, and it remains to be seen whether the team will be able to make the most of it.
Problems for the R26 in Barcelona
As Formula 1 testing continues in Barcelona, Audi are experiencing several difficulties. Both Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto were forced to stop on track, with the issues most likely linked to the power unit. The Brazilian’s car was spotted parked at the side of the circuit, surrounded by marshals.
The R26 driven by the German driver, meanwhile, was seen being transported back to the garage following the red flag that was triggered earlier this morning. Nico Hulkenberg managed to complete only six laps before stopping between turns 9 and 10. Gabriel Bortoleto, on the other hand, recorded just 27 laps across the entire first day of running.
As a result, Audi’s power unit has covered significantly fewer kilometres than most of the competition, with the exception of Honda, which has yet to take to the track with Aston Martin.
It is also worth noting that the German team had already been running at Barcelona for a filming day ahead of this week’s tests. A strong focus on resolving reliability issues could take more time than initially expected, and this is unlikely to help Audi as the start of the 2026 season approaches.
The reliability hurdles encountered by Audi in Barcelona serve as a sobering introduction to the immense technical demands of the 2026 Power Unit regulations. While Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto have shown patience as the team diagnoses hydraulic and engine-related issues, the loss of valuable track time puts the R26 on the back foot compared to established manufacturers. As the shakedown concludes, Audi’s priority must shift toward ensuring that these early failures are resolved before the field reconvenes for the high-stakes official tests in Bahrain.
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