The end of the current Formula 1 season is only weeks away, which means the start of the 2026 season is right around the corner. When it’s lights out next year, Audi will be on the grid for the first time in history—and we got a peek at what the German automaker’s car will look like with the new R26 Concept.
The concept previews the design and color scheme that will be part of a new brand identity for the entire company. It features titanium, carbon black, and the new Audi red. The car will also feature red rings and will serve as a “pioneer for the new brand identity, which will be rolled out in the future both for the F1 team and Audi as a whole.”
Audi is entering F1 through its acquisition of Sauber Group in 2022, and it immediately began developing the car’s turbocharged 1.6-liter V-6 engine, the energy recovery system, and the rest of the power unit, including the transmission.
Leading Audi’s F1 effort are former Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto and former Red Bull Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley. Current Kick Sauber drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will keep their seats next year and race for Audi.
The public will get its first look at Audi’s Formula 1 car in action in February during testing in Bahrain. The car will make its racing debut at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in March.
Audi is already tempering expectations as it enters the iconic racing series, even though it has big goals for the end of the decade. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said:
‘We are not entering Formula 1 just to be there. We want to win. At the same time, we know that you don’t become a top team in Formula 1 overnight. It takes time, perseverance, and tireless questioning of the status quo. By 2030, we want to fight for the World Championship title.’
The new regulations that arrive next season could easily put past winners at the back of the pack, so Audi might not struggle as much as it thinks. However, it’s a challenging task to establish a new F1 team that consistently earns podiums, and that kind of discipline takes time. It sounds like Audi’s F1 team will play a vital role in the company’s future.
Photo by: Audi
