Audi has officially whipped the wraps off its first F1 racer, the R26, with which the German marque will compete in its inaugural season of F1.
In August 2022, Audi announced its plans to enter Formula 1. Now, following the German marque previewing its F1 race car in concept form in December 2025, the automaker has finally whipped the wraps off the official car with which it will compete, as Audi Revolut F1 Team, in its inaugural season of F1 – the R26.
Closely resembling that of concept, the R26’s livery is largely finished in a titanium hue. The powertrain cover and rear wing are finished in black, and features lava red Audi logos. The latter hue has also been applied to the rear sides of the car and openings of the side pods.
The R26 is built on an Audi-developed chassis and powered by the Ingolstadt automaker’s new F1 power unit.
At the head of the Audi F1 project is Mattia Binotto, former team principle of Scuderia Ferrari, with Jonathan Wheatley serving as team principle for Audi Revolut F1 Team. The new F1 outfit’s’s drivers are Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, who raced together in 2025 for Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber.
“The strategic decision to enter Formula 1 as a full works team is our single greatest asset,” said Binotto. “We have spent the last few years meticulously building not just a power unit in Neuburg but laying the foundations for a technical organisation that binds our chassis development in Hinwil and Bicester.
While the brand has big ambitions, it is aware that F1 brings challenges of an intense scale. “We understand that success in Formula 1 demands relentless perseverance and Audi Revolut F1 Team is not here to make up the numbers; we aim to be fighting for the World Championship by 2030,” said Audi CEO Gernot Döllner.
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