Audi poised for Formula 1 debut in 2026

Audi's Formula 1 powertrain follows the various electrified systems the brand used in its previous motorsport projects, such as those in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula E and the Dakar Rally. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Audi will debut in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in 2026 with a factory team, bringing its “Vorsprung durch Technik” philosophy to the pinnacle of motorsport. The entry marks a milestone in Audi’s racing history and focuses its expertise and resources on competing at the highest level.

The brand’s Formula 1 initiative delegates engine, race car, and personnel development across facilities in three countries.

Developing the hybrid powertrain — consisting of a combustion engine, energy recovery system, battery, control unit, and gearbox — is Audi Formula Racing GmbH located at Neuburg, Germany. The car’s chassis and the race operations are managed in Hinwil, Switzerland. A new technology center in Bicester, situated in England’s “Motorsport Valley,” allows the team direct access to top F1 talents and strategic partners.

For the first time, a Formula 1 power unit is developed and built in Germany. It combines a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with an electric motor nearly as powerful as the combustion engine. The increased output from the electric motor means that more energy can be recovered through recuperation. The engine runs on sustainable fuels.

Audi’s Formula 1 powertrain follows the various electrified systems the brand used in its previous motorsport projects, such as those in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula E and the Dakar Rally.

Making Audi’s Formula 1 campaign possible are (from left) Audi AG CEO Gernot Dollner, Audi AG board member Jurgen Rittersberger, and current Sasuber Motorsport AG COO and Chief Technical Officer Mattia Binotto. Sauber will transition into the Audi works team in 2026.

Formula 1’s technical regulations for 2026 make the top race series more sustainable and cost-efficient as it aims to become carbon-neutral by 2030. To achieve this, it requires greater electrification and use of sustainable fuels.

Set to line up for Audi at the first grand prix of the 2026 Formula 1 season are drivers Nico Hulkenberg, who counts over 240 F1 race starts, and Gabriel Bortoleto, a successive world champion in Formula 3 and Formula 2 prior to earning his current F1 seat.

Formula 1 luminary Mattia Binotto serves as Head of the Audi F1 Project, overseeing all development activities across Neuburg, Hinwil, and the UK. Concurrently the COO and Chief Technical Officer of Sauber Motorsport, Binotto’s role is to align work on the race car and powertrain to maximize efficiency and performance.

Jonathan Wheatley, current Team Principal of Sauber Motorsport, is set to manage race operations as Sauber transitions into the Audi works team.

Audi has signed up major global brands in its Formula 1 entry. British Petroleum, together with Castrol, serves as the technology partner. Financial technology company Revolut is the title partner, offering streamlined digital payment solutions for team merchandise. Adidas will supply apparel, footwear and accessories for drivers, mechanics, engineers and other team members, with a joint adidas × Audi F1 collection set to launch globally in February 2026.

Formula 1 is currently the world’s leading motorsport series and enjoys strong growth among younger audiences and in major markets such as China and the United States.