The Audi Formula 1 team became the fourth outfit to reveal their livery for the forthcoming 2026 season, with a presentation event in Berlin.
The R26 features an unique branding, celebrating Audi’s rich heritage in motorsport especially the WEC, with a split livery. The front part is classic silver which used to be the national colour of Germany. While the back part is the use of orange and black, with the famous Audi rings logo on the rear wing and engine cover.
Audi, who have enjoyed immense success in other motorsport series, unveiled the R26 that featured a striking titanium, carbon fibre and lava red livery first teased last year.
This team is a rebrand of Sauber, meaning Audi are entering its first season of Formula 1 racing following big, new change in the regulations. It will be interesting how Audi will compete against another German manufacturer rival, Mercedes.
Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will be the drivers for the upcoming championship, with the former scoring a popular podium at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone with P3.
Audi CEO Gernot Dollner reiterated the team’s goal to compete for the Formula 1 world championship by 2030.
“Today marks more than a launch; it marks the public declaration of a new era for Audi,” said Dollner. “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.”
The manufacturer has taken over the team formerly known as Sauber. While its chassis was built at the Swiss team’s base in Hinwil, Audi developed and constructed its all-new Formula 1 power unit in Neuberg.
Official website:
https://www.audif1.com/en
https://www.audif1.com/en/audif1-concept-car
News stories:
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/first-look-audi-reveal-their-new-car-for-2026-f1-season.5g0jakpo0CQwnqoFDjhsAG
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/cdex6del18xo
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13496335/audi-r26-f1-launch-german-brand-reveal-livery-in-berlin-for-first-season-on-grid-after-taking-over-sauber-team
https://www.racefans.net/2026/01/20/audi-officially-presents-its-first-formula-1-car-after-r26-images-leak-out-early/
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/audi-r/
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/audi-unveils-debut-f1-car-for-2026/10791452/
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/audi-hails-more-aggressive-engine-sound-for-f1-in-2026/10791433/
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/audi-joins-demands-for-fia-to-act-on-2026-f1-compression-ratio-furore/10791454/
Audi believes Mercedes could enjoy a “significant gap” at the front of Formula 1 in 2026 if it is fully exploiting tricks with engine compression ratios.
A technical row has been bubbling away for weeks over Mercedes and Red Bull potentially having found a clever way to run with higher compression ratios than the rules appear to allow.
A limit of 16:1 laid down in the 2026 regulations is measured in ambient conditions, but it is suggested that the two manufacturers have found a way to run at a higher limit when engines are running at operating temperature.
The issue has prompted Audi, Ferrari and Honda to write to the FIA seeking answers about the legality of such designs, and further talks are planned at a meeting with the governing body that is scheduled for Thursday.
But the reason why it has become a big issue is now clear, with Audi chief operating officer Mattia Binotto believing that any manufacturer that is able to run with a higher compression ratio will have a big advantage.
Asked at the Audi livery launch in Berlin about the potential impact on the competitive picture for 2026, Binotto said: “If it’s real, it is certainly a significant gap in terms of performance and lap time, and that would make a difference when we come to competition.”
Sources suggested recently that the gains on the table could be as much as 10-15bhp – which is worth around 0.3-0.4 seconds per lap.
Audi technical director James Key reckons robust enforcement is required from the FIA – because it’s unfair on rivals to not be able to respond if engine compression tricks were being allowed.
This is because under F1’s power unit homologation rules, engine designs are now frozen for the year unless teams are given additional upgrade opportunities because they are too far behind.
“I think if it’s sort of bypassing the intent of the regulations, then it has to be in some way controlled,” said Key.
“We trust the FIA to do that, because no one wants to sit a season out if you’ve got a blatant advantage that you can do nothing [about] with a homologated power unit.
“I think for us, hopefully, the FIA will make the right decisions.”
Key suggested that nobody would accept a team being allowed to run a trick diffuser if others could not copy it, so it was nonsensical to allow a similar situation for engines.
“You’ve got to have a level playing field,” he added. “If someone comes up with a clever diffuser, and you said it’s not the right thing to do, no one else can have it, but you can have it for the rest of the year, it doesn’t make sense. We would never accept that.”
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/audi-fears-significant-deficit-if-2026-engine-tricks-allowed/