AUDI R26 Concept

With the unveiling of the R26 Concept, Audi signals its most ambitious leap yet stepping into Formula 1 not just to participate, but to dominate.
Led by Massimo Frascella, the project defines the brand’s next design chapter: clear, technical, intelligent, and emotional.

 

 

 

Minimalism with Purpose

The R26 speaks the language of precision and restraint. A color palette of Titanium, Carbon Black, and Audi Lava Red creates an image both elegant and assertive. The signature diagonal “cut” separating grey and red defines movement, leading the eye toward the rear and its next-generation hybrid power unit.
Red rings reserved exclusively for the F1 program echo passion and heat, the emotional core of competition.

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Built by Experience

Racing under the name Revolut, Audi has taken full control of Sauber Group and assembled a powerhouse leadership: Mattia Binotto (ex-Ferrari) and Jonathan Wheatley (ex-Red Bull). Drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto complete the team.

Its debut aligns with the 2026 regulation shift introducing sustainable fuels and 50% electric power systems positioning the R26 as a symbol of motorsport’s evolving balance between performance and responsibility.

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Beyond the Checkered Flag

Audi’s entry has been years in the making, built on strategic groundwork and precision engineering. CEO Gernot Döllner states firmly:

“We are not entering Formula 1 just to be there. We want to win.”

He describes this step as “the next chapter in Audi’s renewal,” a move toward a leaner, faster, and more innovative company with the clear goal to fight for a World Championship by 2030.
CFO Jürgen Rittersberger calls it “a perfectly logical investment,” highlighting the economic sense of F1’s cost cap and its ability to attract a younger, tech-driven audience.