Audi 2026 Preview: Hoping to make a mark

Written by Maham Mir, Edited by Marit Everett

As we count down to Formula One's 2026 season opener, our F1 writers preview each team's potential, expectations and goals ahead of the start of a new regulatory era for the sport. Audi are set to begin their F1 journey with ambitious targets and a wealth of experience in the right places, but will this be enough to be competitive at the pinnacle of motorsport?

Credit: Formula One

Audi became one of two new names to join Formula One just in time for the new regulations starting in 2026. A name known by motorsports and car fanatics around the world, the team have an impressive legacy to live up to.

Their entry into the sport, which was confirmed in August 2022, marks the first time that the brand has competed at the pinnacle of motorsport. With an illustrious legacy in other forms of motorsport, they will be hoping to replicate their success as one of the 11 teams on the F1 grid. 

Making history with their decision to enter the sport with their own power unit in their debut season, Audi became only one of a handful of teams to achieve such a feat. The ambitiousness of their project, crowned by their power unit, is also reflected in the expansion of the team’s bases in the UK and Switzerland.

Credit: Formula One

The driver lineup: Continuity and simplicity

Despite the team’s transition from Sauber to Audi, one thing has remained the same and that is the drivers representing them on track. Through retaining the services of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi has kept the balance of a veteran driver and a young newcomer to steer them in the right direction for 2026.

Hulkenberg, who begins his 15th season in F1, is often regarded as one of the most consistent midfield drivers on the grid. In 2025, the German driver scored 51 points, including a long-awaited podium at the British Grand Prix. 

Gabriel Bortoleto starts his sophomore year in F1, having been one of six rookies to join F1 in 2025. The 2024 F2 champion scored 19 points in his debut season, including an impressive P6 finish in Budapest, Hungary. On many occasions throughout the 2025 season, Bortoleto was able to get the better of his more experienced teammate in qualifying and race results, exemplifying his consistency and high performance in F1 despite being a rookie driver.

For both drivers, the main aim for the year will be to progress further forward in the World Constructors’ Championship standings. After finishing P9 in 2025, nine points adrift from Haas in P8, the intention must be to move from the back of the pack into the fight for the top of the midfield.

Credit: Formula One

What we learned from testing

Testing ahead of the 2026 season was broken down into three different events—the shakedown in Barcelona and two different sets of pre-season testing in Bahrain. Across the total nine days of testing that all 11 teams were permitted, Audi displayed no major issues. 

Although new regulations, particularly the early years, are often characterised by unreliability with new teams hit harder than most with these issues, Audi demonstrated none of these problems. Both Hulkenberg and Bortoleto were able to complete their short and run long programmes as planned. 

In Bahrain, the team were able to complete over 700 laps across the first and second pre-season testing sessions. Hulkenberg’s quickest time was a 1:33.987 whilst Bortotelo posted a 1:33.755. Speaking to the media whilst in Bahrain, Hulkenberg noted: “I know there’s a long road ahead, a lot of work still ahead of us, and I think a lot more potential once we dial out many things”.

The data showed optimistic things and no causes for concern, unlike other teams across the grid who are utilising new power units for this new regulatory era. Comparing the fastest times of the team to their midfield competitors such as Haas, who use the Ferrari power unit, the Audi power unit has demonstrated itself to be on almost equal footing with other engine providers.

Credit: Formula One

Team expectations for 2026

With this being the brand’s first foray into F1, the team’s expectations have been as ambitious as the project itself but with a realistic timeline in place. With this current set of regulations set to end in 2030, the team hopes to be fighting for world championship titles by the end of this regulatory era. 

The team, led by Jonathan Wheatley, and the overall project lead by Mattia Binnoto, will no doubt benefit from the wealth of experience that both men bring to their respective roles. For Binotto, the former Team Principal at Scuderia Ferrari, the expectation going into 2026 is simply “to be competitive”. 

Wheatley, who previously worked at Red Bull Racing during their championship winning years, echoed the sentiments of Binotto. Speaking with the media, he identified that “it’s an ambitious journey that we’re [Audi] on”. 

Credit: Formula One

The trajectory of the team, especially when considering the progress made by the Sauber team over the last few seasons, is promising. With a new name and new look, the potential for Audi is limitless especially with the team targeting championship titles by the end of the era. Only time will tell if these aims on paper will be translated to success on track.