Audi Revolut F1 Team Unveiled in Berlin for 2026 Debut
Audi Revolut F1 Team made history on Tuesday evening as it officially unveiled in Berlin. Nearly 400 guests watched the Audi factory Formula 1 team make its first public appearance at the Kraftwerk venue in the heart of the German capital.
“Today, a lot of pieces of the puzzle are coming together,” said Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi Motorsport AG, at the team presentation. “It’s impressive to see how the intensive preparation is paying off, and the performance of those involved is becoming evident. For the first time, the full power of the project is on display. We are ready and excited to inspire people around the world by taking part in Formula 1.”
Audi will make its Formula 1 debut in Australia on March 8. The Audi R26 uses a drivetrain (‘power unit’) that engineers developed at the Neuburg an der Donau facility and labelled AFR 26 Hybrid. The team fired it up in the chassis for the first time shortly before Christmas at the Hinwil site. On January 9, the team completed its first rollout at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain during a filming day.
Formula 1 is going through the biggest change in its history. The series will enter its 77th season in 2026 under largely new technical regulations. The new cars use active aerodynamics with front and rear wings that drivers can adjust while driving. The sport will replace the previous Drag Reduction System (DRS) with a ‘boost mode,’ which delivers maximum extra electric power at the push of a button. Drivers can use it to overtake or defend. The electric motor delivers up to 350 kW, which is close to the approximately 400 kW of the 1.6-litre V6 turbo engine that runs on sustainable fuel. Audi works exclusively with the British company BP in this area.
In Berlin, the team also showcased its race livery and highlighted other partners. Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley and Mattia Binotto, Head of Audi F1 Project, presented the new team kit and driver overalls. Audi drivers Gabriel Bortoleto (Brazil) and Nico Hülkenberg (Germany) will wear them during the 2026 season. Fans can buy the collection through the team’s website and on adidas from February 19. The range supports a carefully coordinated visual identity. Audi Revolut F1 Team developed a unique corporate identity with specific colours and a new font family. It gives the team a clear view from the racetrack to social media, while still looking unmistakably Audi.
The team used the striking architecture of the former ‘Mitte’ heating plant to set the scene on Tuesday evening. The event gave guests a preview of the visual direction through an immersive show, historic Audi race cars, and Audi’s most powerful production vehicle. The Audi RS e-tron GT performance (combined power consumption in kWh/100 km: 20.8–18.7 (WLTP); combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 0; CO2 class: A) delivers almost as much power as the Audi R26 from Formula 1, with a system output of 680 kW (980 hp).
Audi Revolut F1 Team will reach its next major milestone with a shakedown of the new generation Formula 1 cars behind closed doors in Barcelona from January 26 to 30. The Audi R26 will then complete its final test laps during the official Bahrain sessions on February 11–13 and February 18–20. The programme will prepare the team for Audi’s first appearance in a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Audi’s Formula 1 entry supports the brand’s strategic realignment. The Formula 1 project acts as a flagship, reflecting Audi’s technological, cultural and entrepreneurial direction. It aims to inspire customers and employees. Audi will develop and race within an economically attractive framework. A cost cap that applies to all teams sets clear budgets and conditions, while Formula 1’s global reach provides strong brand exposure and sponsorship opportunities. The sport will also introduce far-reaching technical changes, including a higher share of electric power and the use of sustainable fuels. This timing gives Audi a strong platform to enter Formula 1 as a new competitor.
Motorsport sits at the heart of Audi’s DNA and continues to drive technological progress and innovation. Audi has led projects to success across eras and disciplines. It introduced the first mid-engine Grand Prix car, advanced quattro all-wheel drive in rallying, and pushed diesel, hybrid and electric powertrains at Le Mans, in Formula E and at the Dakar Rally. Audi achieved these results with determination, courage, perseverance and team spirit, and it consistently broke new ground. Audi will build on that legacy through its Formula 1 involvement.
