End of the mystery: see the definitive look of the Audi car in Formula 1

Audi officially presented the R26 on Wednesday: its single-seater that marks the German automaker’s historic entry into Formula 1 from the 2026 season. Unlike the concept paintings previously displayed, the model revealed now brings the definitive visual identity and the aerodynamic package with which the team intends to start its journey in the category.

The operation, called Audi Revolut F1 Team, will have a central attraction for the country’s public: one of the cockpits will be occupied by Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. He will team up with German veteran Nico Hülkenberg, mixing youth and experience in the development of the car.

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Long-term goals and technical command

The project is treated at Audi headquarters not only as a marketing action, but as a central pillar of the brand’s engineering. Gernot Döllner, CEO of Audi AG, stressed that entering F1 under the slogan “Vorsprung durch Technik” (progress through technology) comes with pressure for results. The goal stipulated by the board is clear and ambitious: to compete for the World Championship title by 2030.

To achieve this goal, Audi recruited big names from the paddock. The technical leadership is in the hands of Mattia Binotto (former Ferrari boss) and Jonathan Wheatley (former Red Bull), who will have the mission of balancing the construction of a new team with the requirements of the regulations.

On the commercial side, the digital bank Revolut takes over as the main sponsor, leading a list of partners that includes Adidas, BP, Castrol and Gillette — the latter with a visual activation on the vehicle’s rear wing.

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Test by fire in Spain

The R26 will have its first practical test next week in Spain during the pre-season sessions. It will be the crucial moment to validate the integration between the chassis and the new power unit developed by Audi itself. The competitive debut takes place in March, at the Australian GP, a stage that will kick off the brand’s global project.