For the first time in nearly 100 years, luxury car brand Audi will be entering the Formula 1 sphere. The company recently announced that it would be entering in time for the 2026 season.
Audi’s reentry into this popular motorsport coincides with new FIA regulations. CEO Markus Duesmann said, “Audi has always been active and been successful in motor racing. If you think about Le Mans, Dakar, DTM, Formula E, we have always been very active and very successful, and we want to continue this success story now in Formula 1.”
This comes on the heels of Audi acquiring Sauber, as well as its transition to being a fully electric car manufacturer.
The company shared that its factory team will be based in three locations. Neuberg, Germany, will house the Audi Formula Racing GmbH, the team dedicated to creating the power system for their car. Race operations, as well as the car itself, will be fronted by a team in Hinwil, Switzerland, while their Technology Office is located in Bicester, England.
The FIA’s Single Seater Technical Director Nikolas Tombazis said, “The 2026 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations have been designed to provide closer racing among drivers, increase the competition between teams, and improve the spectacle. In addition, we have opted for a higher electrical component of the power unit, a more efficient car overall, and fully sustainable fuels, as part of our drive towards a more sustainable future for our sport.”
Some of these new regulations include:
- A weight reduction of 30kg
- Increased battery power
- A 50/50 internal combustion and electric power system
- Moveable front and rear wings
As our favorite teams rush to adapt to these changes, Audi has a rare opportunity to start fresh. They recently shared the concept art for their new vehicle, featuring a titanium silver and bright red color scheme. They hope to unveil the full car sometime in January 2026.
In terms of racers, Audi decided to keep Sauber’s duo, Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. Hülkenberg is a well-established driver, with 250 Grand Prix races under his belt, while Bortoleto has been praised as “one of the most promising talents” in F1, winning the Formula 3 and 2 Championships in his first seasons.
Audi’s website says, “the company is relying on a combination of experience and youth that already worked well together at Sauber in 2025.”
This historic addition is reminiscent of Audi’s predecessor, Auto Union, competing in Grand Prix motor racing from 1935-39. After motor sports were stopped during World War II, Auto Union AG was dissolved during Soviet occupation. The company was absorbed by Volkswagen in 1964, relaunching the company’s name as “Audi” the following year.
Alongside this announcement and model launch, Audi also announced that they’re teaming up with Revolut, a British FinTech company that is well known for its money management, investment, and insurance programs.
Revolut writes, “The common goal of the partnership is to establish new ways for fans to interact with the sport during race weekends, with unique experiences for a new generation of motorsport enthusiasts and exclusive benefits for Revolut customers.”
The F1 2026 season will officially start the weekend of March 6th, with pre-season testing throughout February.
