Audi’s journey to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship reached a decisive milestone as the Audi R26 completed its first fire-up and inaugural on-track running, signaling the project’s transition from development to dynamic reality ahead of the 2026 season.
The first fire-up took place on December 19 at Audi’s Hinwil facility in Switzerland, marking the first time the new Audi power unit was run while fully integrated into the chassis. This moment validated years of engineering work carried out across Audi’s global motorsport network, uniting expertise from Neuburg in Germany, Hinwil in Switzerland, and the new technical centre in Bicester, United Kingdom.
A first fire-up is a fundamental checkpoint in any Formula 1 program, confirming that thousands of individual components operate together as a single system. For Audi, it also represented an emotional turning point, as the car moved from design and simulation into physical motion for the first time.
Momentum continued in January when the Audi Revolut F1 Team became the first squad to run a 2026-specification Formula 1 car on track. During a filming day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the R26 completed its initial laps, allowing engineers to gather early data and complete essential system checks.
Drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto shared driving duties, gaining their first real-world impressions of the car, while Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley and Audi F1 Project Head Mattia Binotto oversaw the milestone day.
Audi will officially present its full race livery and team identity at a global launch in Berlin on January 20, ahead of the first collective pre-season test in Barcelona from January 26 to 30. Two further tests in Bahrain will follow in February, as preparations intensify for Audi’s first Formula 1 race in Melbourne.
With the R26 now fired up and running, Audi’s Formula 1 debut has moved from promise to performance.
