Overview
- The Munich reveal showcased a minimalist titanium, raw carbon and new Audi Red scheme on a show car, with Audi stressing the race-spec bodywork will differ and sponsor branding will be added.
- Audi will rebrand the Sauber entry on January 1, launch the real R26 later that month and run a behind-closed-doors collective test in Barcelona before official pre-season testing.
- CEO Gernot Döllner set a goal to fight for the World Championship by 2030, outlining challenger years in 2026–2027 and a push to become a frontrunner from 2028.
- The Neuburg-built 2026 power unit is an in-house project that completed a full powertrain race simulation in 2024, with limited on-track testing identified as a key challenge.
- Following a full Sauber takeover, Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley now lead a team buoyed by 2025 gains including Nico Hülkenberg’s Silverstone podium, with Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto signed for 2026.