MUNICH, Germany—Audi’s long-awaited Formula 1 team has given the world the first look at what the Audi R26 will look like when it hits the track next year. Well, sort of – the car you see here is a normal show car for the 2026 aero rules, but the livery you see, as well as the sponsors’ logos, will be racing next year.
“By entering the pinnacle of motorsport, Audi is making a clear, ambitious statement. This is the next chapter in the company’s renewal. Formula 1 will be a catalyst for change towards a leaner, faster and more innovative Audi,” said Audi CEO Gernot Doellner. Dollner said, “We’re not getting into this just to be in Formula 1. We want to win. At the same time, we know you can’t become a top team in Formula 1 overnight. It takes time, perseverance and relentless questioning of the status quo. By 2030, we want to be fighting for world championship titles.”
After the complex livery of cars like the R18 or Audi’s Formula E program, the R26 is refreshingly simple.
Jonathan Gitlin
After the complex livery of cars like the R18 or Audi’s Formula E program, the R26 is refreshingly simple.
Jonathan Gitlin
No sponsors have been announced yet, so the car is currently vacant.
Jonathan Gitlin
No sponsors have been announced yet, so the car is currently vacant.
Jonathan Gitlin
Audi expects its rivals to see the same scene next year.
Jonathan Gitlin
Audi expects its rivals to see the same scene next year.
Jonathan Gitlin
No sponsors have been announced yet, so the car is currently vacant.
Jonathan Gitlin
Audi expects its rivals to see the same scene next year.
Jonathan Gitlin
I’ll admit, when I first saw the images Audi sent ahead of time, I was a little underwhelmed, but in person, when you see it from different angles, it makes a lot more sense. The design is more than a little minimalist, combining straight-edged geometric blocks of color with aerodynamically curved bodywork. The titanium references Audi’s latest concept car, and the red—which is almost fluorescent in person—is a brand-new shade called Audi Red. It is used to highlight the various air intakes of the car and looks really quite effective.
Why F1?
After a long and proud history in sportscar racing and, before that, rallying, Audi’s motorsports activities all but evaporated in the wake of Dieselgate and then a brief Formula E program. Then in early 2022, Volkswagen Group revealed that after decades of “will they, won’t they” speculation, not one but two of its brands—Audi and Porsche—will enter F1 in 2026. (Porsche’s deal with Red Bull would later fall apart.)