Audi officially presents its first Formula 1 car after R26 images leak out early – RaceFans

January 21, 2026 admin

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20th January 2026, 18:3220th January 2026, 20:24 | Written by Keith Collantine
Audi has officially presented its first Formula 1 car as the manufacturer prepares for its debut in the world championship this year.

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However the first images of the new car leaked through links to their location on Audi’s website ahead of Tuesday’s launch.
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Audi officially uncovered its R26 in an event in Berlin. Audi CEO Gernot Dollner reiterated the team’s goal to compete for the Formula 1 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 F1 power unit in Neuberg.
“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,” said the head of Audi’s F1 project Mattia Binotto. “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.”
The R26 has already run in a private test at the Circuit de Catalunya two weeks ago, where drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto had their first chance to sample it.
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Hulkenberg said Audi’s F1 project is “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,” he added. “We have the chance to build something very special together and I am looking forward to get this car on the track in Melbourne.”
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jonthereyougo
20th January 2026, 18:41
glad they stuck with the concept.
as the Red Bull teams they had the show car on site but showed more of a real car in the video/renders
Mr A
20th January 2026, 18:45
Uninspired and dull in my opinion. Least impressive of the colours we’ve seen so far.
Get used to looking at it for the next ten years 😉
Ich lebe Huhn
20th January 2026, 19:17
what are you talking about? Audi had Wagnerian singers, Guests all dressed in black, a Reichstag like setting. Only thing missing in the parade up the stairs, was the inclusion of flags and Parteiadlers, at the front. Could it be any more Deutscher?
Jogo
20th January 2026, 21:29
Häää?
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
20th January 2026, 19:34
Do you think they’ll stay for 10 years? Or sell out to Qatar?
It’s over to you, Mercedes – how will you differentiate yourselves from that, in the head-on shot of the sponsor’s bridge with the tiny cars beneath it?
Mr A
20th January 2026, 20:07
Can’t be as challenging as BMS in 1992…
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
20th January 2026, 18:45
So much for the Ferrari not being a good design comments.
That’s as boring as Toyota’s 2001 test car.
PeteB
20th January 2026, 18:55
Yeah and on top of that, when you have a bland car with a few splashes of colour, it’s the colour that will draw your eye. I haven’t looked at the car for a few minutes and I already can’t remember anything from the cockpit forwards. I have no idea what sponsors they have other than Revolut (because of the Ferrari article), BP (because it’s green and stands out) and the Audi logo on the rear wing (because it’s orange.)
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
20th January 2026, 19:52
It looks like two different cars glued in the middle.
I don’t understand how they could make something this bad for their grand entrance into the sport. 4 years in the waiting! It’s sistemic of every team really, although the liveries we’ve seen so far this year have been better. Here’s hoping this is the worst of the lot…
GongTong (@gongtong)
20th January 2026, 19:58
@fer-no65 I agree. It’s not very exciting at all is it.
Is there at least the possibility that they’re holding out for a bigger name title sponsor/partnership before they choose a major colour to work with? Or am I clutching at straws…
MichaelN
20th January 2026, 18:50
Eeeeh. Okay? Doesn’t really scream Audi to me, and this looks more 2016 LMP1 (not good) than 2011 LMP1 (very good).
Oh well, still an interesting team. Very curious how they do.
SpaFrancorchamps (@spafrancorchamps)
20th January 2026, 19:04
It so underwhelming I just can’t comprehend.
Zxc
20th January 2026, 19:18
“Audi officially presents its first Formula 1”
WHERE?!?
The pictures in this article show the demonstration car (with the generic FIA sidepods) from a couple of months ago, just with a new livery.
An actual Audi car was tested in Catalunya x
Mr A
20th January 2026, 20:10
This was initially billed as a livery only launch, for some reason as we saw it a couple of months ago.
They called it the R26 tonight, although anyone with half a brain can see it isn’t. But then renders are also different to the car at the (pompous) ceremony.
Bizarre behaviour.
Zach Bigalke (@bigalke)
20th January 2026, 19:24
I’ve seen better liveries in the F1 game, and that franchise is TERRIBLE at allowing you to create liveries.
Dane
21st January 2026, 0:15
The first thing I thought of is it looks like a genetic livery from the Codemasters game.
Mark (@blueruck)
20th January 2026, 19:34
For those expecting more, remember the game is to hold your cards as long as possible. They will all show their cards soon enough. Until then…..
fawkes
20th January 2026, 20:04
I personally enjoyed it but nowadays there are too many dark colored cars in the grid. I miss the days when we saw a car like this and quickly associate it to McLaren, more recently to Mercedes. But what can they do? This is precisely the Audi racing colors for decades. If they went with white they would end up looking like Haas. Chrome-red in F1 is McLaren-Vodafone era. Only patterns would make it less dull. But it is perfectly ok as it is. We need the other teams to be more colorful, using less black. I would also love to see the return of a yellow car, so please Caddilac, do it like you do in IMSA. F1 teams should use every primary and secondary colors of a color disk, plus black and white.
Asanator
21st January 2026, 0:10
Looks more like the hideous love child of the current Mercedes and McLaren to me..
Zach Bigalke (@bigalke)
21st January 2026, 0:32
Certainly feels a bit like McLaren’s 2023 British Grand Prix livery.
Zach Bigalke (@bigalke)
21st January 2026, 0:30
Maybe it is just the rendering, but that looks way more papaya than Audi red.
Personally, I would have liked to see a livery more akin to Ken Block’s S1 Hoonitron. But at least they need to get the right Audi red.
https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/this-is-ken-blocks-audi-s1-hoonitron-14444
tielemst
20th January 2026, 20:33
Butt and I do mean butt ugly
Newfangled (@newfangled)
20th January 2026, 20:38
I love the split livery and gunmetal finish. Perhaps I’m in the minority! Can’t wait to see it on track.
Jogo
20th January 2026, 21:41
At least I’ll be able to spot the car on screen quickly. And if they start winning, ten years from now you’ll be calling it an “iconic livery” hehe, human nature.
Roth Man (@rdotquestionmark)
20th January 2026, 21:47
Not a fan personally. It’s not bad but I expected better (like any Audi LMP1 or prototype ever) or even a bit of 1996 A4 touring car or group B Quattro. Basically any other livery Audi has done other would have been better. But my biggest dislike is the straight line split half and half livery down the back. Looks basic and ugly.
Again, all personnel preference before the emotional types get upset.
Scalextric (@scalextric)
20th January 2026, 21:48
A lot of these comments are in line with the generic new car conversation:
“Just bought a new car”
“Ooh. What colour is it?”
Who cares? Do you want more go faster stripes?
We can’t see the interesting stuff like how their PU will perform or whether they’ve mastered some aerodynamic trick. Patience, people.
Neil (@neilosjames)
20th January 2026, 22:25
Could be worse.
Not sure how, but I’m convinced it could be.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
20th January 2026, 22:55
Looks awesome ! Really starting to like the new cars, look stubbier somehow despite the conservative culling of dimensions. Some cohesive liveries so far. I hope the rest are taking note
Dane
20th January 2026, 23:21
Serious backmarker vibes, but I guess Sauber with a bigger bank account so we shouldn’t be surprised.
SteveP
20th January 2026, 23:33
All these negative comments.
Look on the bright side: It isn’t livid GREEN
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