Overview
- Audi will take over Sauber to compete as a full works team in 2026, previewing its titanium, carbon black and Audi red identity with red rings on the R26 Concept.
- The in‑house 2026 hybrid power unit from Neuburg has completed full bench endurance runs, with initial engines built, first fire‑up imminent and units set to ship for Bahrain testing in December.
- Operations are split across Neuburg for power units, Hinwil for chassis and race running, and a Bicester technology office, supported by partners bp, Adidas and Revolut, with Qatar’s sovereign fund as an investor.
- Mattia Binotto oversees the F1 project with Jonathan Wheatley as team principal, and drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto retained for the transition into 2026.
- Audi’s pre‑season plan includes a full car unveiling in January 2026, a closed collective test in Barcelona late January, public tests in Bahrain in February, and a race debut at the Australian Grand Prix in March.