Audi R26
A special feature of Formula 1®: Each team must develop its own race car. The first Audi Formula 1® race car is called the R26. The ‘R’ has a long tradition in model designations of Audi in motorsport. The number 26 stands for the 2026 model year, as is common in Formula 1®.
Chassis
Monocoque
made of high-strength carbon fiber
System output
around 1,000
hp
Weight
770
kilograms
The race car
The 770-kilogram monoposto has a monocoque made of high-strength carbon fiber and active aerodynamics with front and rear wings that can be adjusted while driving. The new generation of Formula 1® racing cars is powered by hybrid drivetrains with a system output of around 1,000 hp. The split between combustion engine and electric drive is almost 50:50.
The regulations
For the 2026 season, a generational change in powertrains and chassis will set new priorities in the racing series. Cost efficiency, synthetic fuels or fuels produced from renewable biomass, and a high proportion of electric power in the drive system are key requirements of the new regulations. Since all manufacturers had to develop new race cars and drivetrains, the timing was ideal for Audi to enter the series as a power unit manufacturer with its own factory team.
The design
115 days before its first race in Formula 1®, Audi provided a preview of the company’s presence in the pinnacle of motorsport at its Brand Experience Center in Munich. Just like in future production models, Audi will bring uncompromising clarity to the racetrack and beyond.
