Overview
- Audi’s R26 turned its first laps at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Jan. 9 in a regulated filming-day shakedown.
- Drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto shared duties, with running confined to Pirelli demonstration tyres and a maximum of 200 km.
- The outing follows a Dec. 19 first fire‑up of Audi’s 2026 power unit installed in the chassis at Hinwil, confirming cross‑site integration.
- Project leaders say the engine version used is an early iteration that will be refined before homologation targeted for March.
- The team plans a Jan. 20 launch in Berlin, with pre‑season testing to follow in Barcelona later in January and in Bahrain in February under the new 2026 rules.