Audi 2026 Car Launch: A striking look from the newcomers

Written by Maham Mir

Audi reveal the livery of their 2026 challenger, the R26 | Credit: Formula One

Audi became the fourth team to reveal their challenger for the 2026 Formula One season yesterday, marking their entry into the sport and getting ever closer to the start of the new season. Their challenger, the R26, has been a project long in the making after Audi announced their intention to join the sport in August 2022.

Forgoing the glossy look adopted by the other teams who have already revealed their car designs for this season, Audi’s silver and neon orange look is destined to catch attention on the track. With a black engine cover and rear wing, the iconic Audi rings are prominently displayed twice over.

As one of two new teams arriving on the grid this season, Audi’s ambitious project to join the pinnacle of motorsport will also include utilising their own power unit. To aid in their project, the car also heavily features nods to their title sponsor, Revolut.

After enjoying success in other motorsports series, Audi join F1 in 2026 | Credit: Formula One

The team will be utilising the same driver line-up from the previous season when they raced as Kick Sauber. Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto scored 70 points in 2024 and finished P9 in the World Constructors’ Championship, only eight points off Haas in P8.

With the efforts of both the rookie and the veteran driver, both enjoyed personal highlights in 2024 such as Hülkenberg’s maiden podium in Silverstone and Bortoleto’s maiden points finish in Austria. Both drivers will be hoping to repeat this success and add more points to the tally in 2026.

At the launch event in Berlin, Hülkenberg commented: “I committed to this project in May 2024, so the anticipation for this day and for it to become reality, just very happy it’s all happening now and it’s starting.” 

Echoing the sentiments of his teammate, Bortoleo added: “for me it’s a dream coming true. It’s the type of project you have once in a lifetime. It’s also the opportunity to create a legacy that will last in history.” The Brazilian driver, entering his second season in F1, will be hoping that the German manufacturer will be able to provide him with a car that will be a regular points-scorer.

Bortoleto and Hülkenberg in their 2026 race suits | Credit: Formula One

Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley alluded that despite the extensive work done behind the scenes to prepare for the season, there can be no guarantee in performance. Speaking ahead of the reveal, he outlined that “it’s a whole new set of technical regulations. [...] We probably won’t really know about the performance of the cars, even in Melbourne.”

Further highlighting the great deal of unknowns for all the teams heading into this new season, one with the most dramatic overhaul in regulations in at least a decade, the Team Principal urged caution in expectations. Adding to his previous comments, he stated “it will take a little while for us to understand who’s got the best package, what do we need to aim for and is it us?”

Having already taken the car to the track for a filming day in Barcelona at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Audi have had the opportunity to hear their brand new engine in action. Wheatley added: “it’s all coming together and when you see it -- when you see the car, when you see everyone’s branding on the car and this becomes a team -- it’s an extraordinary feeling.”

Credit: Formula One

Head of the Audi F1 project Mattia Binotto, who previously held the Team Principal position at Scuderia Ferrari, outlined clear aims for the team who remain aware of the daunting task ahead of them. Speaking of their expected trajectory for the upcoming season and future seasons, he said “we are first aiming to fight for a championship in 2030, and we will have milestones starting from 2026.”

He further added that: “we are just at the beginning of our journey. It's a starting point. We are conscious that there are a lot of challenges ahead of us. But as well, I think on the other side, we are ready for it. We are ready to face a challenge. We are ready to grow, to build, and to continue to learn.”

Ahead of the Barcelona shakedown which will take place between 26th to 30th January, emotions and expectations seem to be high in the Audi garage. Only time will tell where the newcomers will rank in comparison to their competitors.

F1 car launches for the 2026 will continue this week as Mercedes, Ferrari and Alpine reveal their liveries later on this week.