Formula 1®
The first Audi for F1®
drivers
Hülkenberg and Bortoleto
locations
Hinwil, Neuburg, Bicester
The four rings in Formula 1®
The racing series
Formula 1® is considered the toughest test lab in the world. The short development cycles, flat hierarchies, and quick decisions are intended to serve as a model for the entire company. At the same time, Audi gains access to the latest technological developments and materials. Thanks to open competition, Formula 1® serves as a technology driver for both electric mobility and sustainable e-fuels. Its global reach, financial regulations with cost caps, and focus on sustainable technology create attractive conditions.
The new 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 race car
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®. 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 drivers
The drivers have always been the stars of Formula 1®. With experienced German Nico Hulkenberg and Brazilian young talent Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi Revolut F1® Team is banking on a combination of experience and youth.
Nico Hulkenberg
With more than 250 Grand Prix races under his belt, Nico Hulkenberg is one of the most experienced drivers in Formula 1®. With third place in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July 2025, Hulkenberg achieved his long-awaited first podium finish in Formula 1®. He has also demonstrated his talent in other racing series: In 2015, Hulkenberg won the Le Mans 24 Hours – another milestone in an impressive career in which Hulkenberg won every junior series he competed in on his way to the top of motorsport. “Audi’s entry into the pinnacle of motorsport is a real statement. For me, as a German, representing such a major brand with a unique motorsport history is also something very special,” he says.
Gabriel Bortoleto
Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto competed in his first full season of the Formula 1® World Championship in 2025 and made an immediate impression – which was no great surprise given his track record: Bortoleto won both the FIA Formula 3 and FIA Formula 2 championships in consecutive years in his first season in each series – a feat that only three other drivers have achieved before him. Even as a child, Bortoleto dreamed of becoming a Formula 1® driver. “Being part of Audi feels like a dream come true for me,” he says. “My big idol is Ayrton Senna. And it was Ayrton Senna who brought Audi to Brazil. When the Audi F1 Project started and I was given the chance to be part of it, it was like a gift for me.”
Audi Revolut F1® Team
Audi acquired the Sauber Group in Switzerland to enter Formula 1®. The Swiss team has been competing in the FIA Formula 1® World Championship since 1992 and brings a wealth of experience from more than 30 years in the pinnacle of motorsport to today’s Audi Revolut F1® Team. The Audi Formula 1® cars are developed at the F1® factory in Hinwil, around 30 kilometers from Zurich, with race operations being handled from there, too. The team works closely with Audi Formula Racing (AFR) in Neuburg an der Donau, where the powertrain is developed. A technology center in Bicester, England, gives Audi Revolut F1® Team access to the world’s largest pool of motorsport expertise and talent.
The key players in Hinwil
Mattia Binotto
As Head of Audi F1® Project, Mattia Binotto is responsible for overall development at the Hinwil and Neuburg an der Donau sites, as well as at the Audi Motorsport Technology Centre UK in Bicester (England). He is also Team Principal of Audi Revolut F1® Team.
James Key
As Technical Director, James Key is responsible for the technical management, performance, and development of Audi Revolut F1® Team. He manages the technical operations from the team’s headquarters in Hinwil and oversees the concept, design, and construction of the chassis as well as the important aerodynamic development.
Power unit development in Germany
Audi Formula Racing GmbH (AFR) in Neuburg an der Donau, near the Audi headquarters, was founded specifically for the Audi F1® Project. At AFR, the powertrain (hybrid drive including transmission) is developed and manufactured in close cooperation with the Hinwil site. The Audi F1® Power Unit, labelled ‘AFR 26 hybrid’, consists of the V6 internal combustion engine (ICE) with 1.6-liter displacement and turbocharging, an energy recovery system (ERS) including energy storage (ES) and electric motor-generator unit (MGU-K) as well as an electronic control unit (CU-K). This powertrain, which runs on advanced sustainable fuels, reflects the development of Formula 1 towards greater sustainability. This was a prerequisite for the involvement of Audi.
The key players in Neuburg
Stefan Dreyer
As CTO (Chief Technology Officer) of AFR in Neuburg, Stefan Dreyer is responsible for the technical development of the Audi F1® Power Unit. Dreyer has also been the spokesperson for the AFR management board since May 2025.
Christian Foyer
In his role as COO (Chief Operating Officer) of AFR, Christian Foyer has been responsible for the operational processes of the F1® Project at the Neuburg site since May 2025.
The race calendar
A program of 24 Grands Prix on five continents ensures global media coverage of the sport and a high degree of continuity throughout the calendar year. The Formula 1® season consists of races on permanent racetracks alternating with races on street circuits such as Monte Carlo, Las Vegas, and – new this year – Madrid. Each race weekend features three days of action on the track. Traditionally, there are two free practice sessions on Friday, another free practice session and qualifying on Saturday, and the Grand Prix with a standing start on Sunday. On so-called ‘Sprint’ weekends, there is an additional shorter race on Saturday with its own qualifying session on Friday.
The adidas x Audi Revolut F1® Team Collection
Gallery
