Audi believes it has made a “clear and ambitious statement” amid revealing the livery for the car that will contest its first Formula 1 campaign in 2026.
The German marque, which will officially enter F1 next year from its transition from Sauber, launched the concept livery for the car – known as the R26 – in Munich on Wednesday.
Present were Audi’s CEO Gernot Dollner, the team’s COO Mattia Binotto and its Team Principal, current Sauber boss Jonathan Wheatley, as well Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
The colour scheme chosen incorporates titanium, carbon black and Audi red, and, of course, the brand’s famous ‘four rings’ logo.
Its goal is to have “the most striking car on the race track”, and Dollner, speaking at the launch event, set out some big goals and high bars – title success by the end of F1’s forthcoming new technical regulations period.
“Motorsport is part of the Audi DNA and has always been the driving force behind technological progress and innovation,” he said.
“By entering the pinnacle of motorsport, Audi is making a clear, ambitious statement.
“It is the next chapter in the company’s renewal. Formula 1 will be a catalyst for the change towards a leaner, faster and more innovative Audi.
“We are not entering Formula 1 just to be there. We want to win. At the same time, we know that you don’t become a top team in Formula 1 overnight.
“It takes time, perseverance and tireless questioning of the status quo. By 2030, we want to fight for the World Championship title.”
‘Starting, evolving and first successes’ – the three-phased approach to F1 glory for Audi
Binotto has quietly been leading the project from the front as Wheatley leads the current team on the pit wall, and brings the raft of experience he learned at the helm of Ferrari.
The Italian shares Dollner’s ambitious targets, with the team set to operate across three bases – Sauber’s existing Hinwil HQ, the brand’s Neuberg base and an additional technology centre in Bicester.
“The Audi F1 Project is the most exciting project in motorsports, if not in sports overall,” said Binotto. “The goal is clear: to fight for championships by 2030.
“That journey takes time, the right people, and a mindset of continuous improvement. Formula 1 is one of the most competitive environments. Becoming a champion is a journey of progress.
“Mistakes will happen, but learning from them is what drives transformation.
“That’s why we follow a three-phased approach: starting as a challenger with the ambition to grow, evolving into a competitor by daring the status quo and achieving first successes, and ultimately becoming a champion.”
Wheatley, like Binotto, brings a wealth of experience from the very top – his many years as Sporting Director at Red Bull.
And the Englishman is clear that its success will be based on belief between everyone involved in the project, and a shared “spirit”, already exuded by Hulkenberg and Bortoleto.
“This journey is not just about the destination but about engaging with the people who make every step possible,” he said.
“It is about your mindset, focus, resilience and confidence without complacency.
“Championship-winning teams are not built on magic – they are built on people who believe in each other, in the process, and in the destination.
“Our drivers, Nico and Gabi, embody that spirit. They bring passion and hunger and treat every lap as a chance to learn and move forward.”
READ MORE – How Nico Hulkenberg helped pick Gabriel Bortoleto up from home F1 ‘weekend to forget’
Discussion about this post