Audi have launched their first Formula 1 car at an event in Berlin as the German manufacturer prepares to enter the sport in 2026.
The R26 was revealed at Kraftwerk Berlin, a power station in the German capital, with the car featuring a titanium, carbon fibre and lava red livery that was first shown at an event in Munich in November.
Audi announced their plans to enter F1 in August 2022 and will make their debut at the Australian Grand Prix with a car powered by their own power unit.
Audi launch R26 F1 car with target to fight for championship by 2030
CEO Gernot Dollner, Head of Audi F1 project Mattia Binotto, Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley and drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto attended the launch event.
“Today marks more than a launch; it marks the public declaration of a new era for Audi. Formula 1 is the most demanding stage in the world of motorsport, and we are here not just to compete, but to define the future of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik.’ This project is a catalyst for our entire company, a symbol of our transformation towards a more performance-driven, efficient, and innovative culture. Our philosophy is one of absolute, long-term commitment. We understand that success in Formula 1 demands relentless perseverance and Audi Revolut F1 Team is not here to make up the numbers; we aim to be fighting for the World Championship by 2030,” Dollner said in a statement.
The team ran a 2026-spec car at Barcelona earlier this month during a filming day, making them the first team to do so. They will return to Barcelona for Shakedown Week where all 11 F1 teams can run for three days.
“The strategic decision to enter Formula 1 as a full works team is our single greatest asset. We have spent the last few years meticulously building not just a power unit in Neuburg but laying the foundations for a technical organisation that binds our chassis development in Hinwil and Bicester. This seamless integration gives us total control over our destiny, eliminating compromises and enabling a level of agility and innovation that is essential for success. “This is what makes Audi Revolut F1 Team one vision, controlling every variable from the engine block to the front wing. This is the foundation upon which championships are built,” Mattia Binotto, Head of Audi F1 Project added.
Wheatley joined the Hinwil-based team after spending nearly two decades at Red Bull.
“This car is the physical embodiment of thousands of hours of hard work from a hugely talented group of people across our facilities. Today, we start this journey with immense pride, but also with humility. This is just day one of a long campaign. Our mission is to embed a championship DNA into every fibre of this team. A culture of resilience, precision, and relentless curiosity where we stop at nothing to find performance. For everyone here, the excitement comes from this challenge: to build a team that gets stronger with every lap, every debrief, and every race. We will turn our long-term ambition into on-track reality, day by day, decision by decision,” Wheatley, who joined the Hinwil-based team after nearly two decades at Red Bull further explained.
Hulkenberg and Bortoleto will race together for a second season. The pair worked together last year with Hulkenberg securing his first podium and Bortoleto taking five points finishes in his first year in F1.
“Having been in the Formula 1 paddock for many years, you learn to distinguish between ambition and capability. What I feel here today is a profound seriousness and an incredible energy that sets this team apart. We are a true works team with a clear, long-term vision backed by immense resources and world-class expertise. For a driver, the proposition of being with Audi at the very start of its journey is exceptionally exciting. We have the chance to build something very special together and I am looking forward to get this car on the track in Melbourne,” Hulkenberg said.
“To race for the Four Rings, a brand that has such an iconic and victorious history in motorsport is, quite simply, a dream come true. You grow up hearing about the dominance of Audi at Le Mans and in rallying, and to now be chosen to carry that legacy into Formula 1 is an unbelievable honour. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I feel the weight of the responsibility, but more than that, I feel an incredible motivation to learn, to push, and to grow with this team. I am ready to give my absolute all to help write this great chapter for Audi Revolut F1 Team,” Bortoleto further added.
