The key details behind Audi’s entry into Formula 1 – Audi is set to return to Formula 1 as a full factory team in 2026, marking one of the most significant manufacturer arrivals in the sport in years. Following a lengthy period of preparation and strategic planning, the brand will take over the current Sauber operation and compete under its own name.
With an ambitious long-term roadmap and a leadership team comprised of seasoned professionals from leading F1 organisations, Audi intends to establish a foundation capable of competing for world championships by the beginning of the next decade.
At the heart of the project is Mattia Binotto, former Ferrari team principal and current managing director and CEO of Audi’s F1 operation. His vision outlines a phased development plan that is both ambitious and realistic.
A Clear Roadmap: How Audi Plans to Rise Through the Grid
Speaking in Munich during the public unveiling of Audi’s 2026 design study, Binotto outlined the team’s competitive trajectory. According to Binotto, the first two years, 2026 and 2027, will focus on establishing Audi as a credible midfield challenger. These seasons will be dedicated to growth, organisational alignment, and gaining operational experience under the new regulations.
After this period, Audi expects to make rapid progress. From 2028 to 2029, Binotto envisages the team evolving into serious competitors capable of achieving meaningful results. The ultimate goal is to consistently challenge for race wins and compete for world titles from 2030 onwards. This long-term ambition is firmly anchored in the new power unit regulations of 2026 and Audi’s broader goals within motorsport.
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Leadership and driver line-up
Audi has assembled a leadership group designed to combine the expertise of several successful Formula 1 teams. Mattia Binotto will oversee the entire operation as CEO, while Jonathan Wheatley, most recently admired for his influential work at Sauber, is set to serve as team principal. Wheatley brings extensive managerial experience and operational knowledge from his long-term tenure at Red Bull Racing.
The driver pairing has also been confirmed. Nico Hülkenberg will bring veteran experience, technical understanding, and a proven ability to maximise machinery. He will be joined by Gabriel Bortoleto, who is 17 years his junior and is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents in the sport. This combination offers a balance of reliability, feedback and long-term potential — an important strategic mix for a team entering a major development cycle.
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Three locations, one factory team: How Audi Will Operate
Audi’s Formula 1 structure will be spread across three key sites, each playing a specialised role within the overall programme.
Hinwil, Switzerland: Chassis Headquarters
Hinwil will remain the heart of the team’s chassis design, development and manufacturing. The existing Sauber facilities will be expanded to support Audi’s long-term needs, including enhanced production capabilities and updated infrastructure. This location will be responsible for aerodynamic development, car build processes, and the operational logistics surrounding the race chassis.
Neuburg an der Donau, Germany: Power Unit Development
Since 2023, Audi has been developing its 2026 power unit in Neuburg. With the new regulations placing a far greater emphasis on electrification, the hybrid system is set to play a pivotal role. The electric motor, which is expected to deliver almost half of the car’s total power, represents one of Audi’s most significant technological advancements. Company executives anticipate that expertise in electrification, energy management, and efficiency will be crucial performance factors in the second half of the decade.
Bicester, United Kingdom: Operational base
As with most Formula 1 teams, Audi is establishing a presence in the UK. A representative office in Bicester will put the manufacturer in close proximity to key suppliers, technologies, and industry partners. This decision will align Audi with the sport’s existing ecosystem, while maintaining its core engineering bases in Switzerland and Germany.
Scaling up for race weekends
According to reports in Sport Bild, Audi intends to have over 100 staff members working on each race weekend. Of these, 54 will be permanently stationed at the circuits, supported by 33 engineers based in Hinwil and a further 33 in Neuburg. This structure mirrors that of established front-running teams and is designed to ensure seamless communication between trackside and factory departments.
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The R26: When Will Audi’s First Complete Car Appear?
Audi’s first Formula 1 car, the R26, will be unveiled in its entirety during pre-season testing in Barcelona. The official test begins on 26 January, which will be the first time the car runs under real conditions. Only after these initial laps will Audi unveil the final specifications of the R26 to the public, in line with the approach taken by several other teams.
During the Munich presentation, Binotto emphasised that the design presented on stage was only a preliminary concept. Substantial changes are expected as development continues throughout the winter, particularly in the aerodynamic surfaces and chassis structure. The final car will reflect the results of ongoing simulation work, wind-tunnel testing, and integration with the power unit.
A complex challenge awaits
Despite the clarity of Audi’s plan, one of the biggest unknowns remains how effectively the multi-location structure will operate as a unified team. Integrating separate facilities across three countries requires efficient communication systems, consistent leadership, and streamlined decision-making processes. Success in Formula 1 often hinges on how well the technical departments collaborate, especially under tight deadlines.
Nevertheless, Audi enters the sport with significant resources, top-level management and a long-term strategic commitment. The next few years will reveal how quickly this investment will translate into on-track performance.
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The huge fanfare surrounding the arrival of Lewis Hamilton in Maranello was amplified by the fact that Ferrari had the quickest car come the end of 2024. Across the final six race weekends they closed a 74 point gap to the championship leaders, to fall short of the constructors’ title in Abu Dhabi by just 14 points.
Yet 2025 has been a year of misery for the Scuderia and had Mercedes and Red Bull had a second driver contributing anything like the results of their team leader’s Ferrari would now be a distant fourth in this years title race.
Lewis Hamilton has set the record for a Ferrari driver failing to score a podium since arriving with the team and the likelihood he will go all year without making the Sunday presentation remains high.
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Raikkonen is also the last Ferrari driver to have won the F1 championship, having come from nowhere to pip lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso at the last race in 2007. The Scuderia are experiencing their longest ever drought in winning the constructors’ championship, this year makes the number eighteen years.
The Monegasque driver is regarded amongst the best on the grid, particularly in terms of qualifying. His pole position ratio to F1 race starts sees him just outside the top ten of all time with 27 from 147 entries. Yet with just eight Grand Prix victories to his name, thistles a tale of the Ferrari race cars he has been given.
The recent outburst of the Ferrari group chairman, John Elkann, who called his F1 drivers to “talk less” and “focus more on racing” has been interpreted by many as a not so subtle direction for Charles Leclerc. Whilst Hamilton has admitted his struggles are due to adapting to a new team, Leclerc has been vocal about Ferrari being “not good enough”. His most recent attack on the team was in the media day in Brazil…READ MORE
Clara Marlowe is a Formula 1 writer at TJ13 with over 15 years of experience in motorsport journalism, having contributed features to established sports magazines such as Evo, MCN, Wisden Cricket Monthly and other digital outlets.
Clara specialises in human-interest storytelling, focusing on the individuals behind the sport, including drivers, engineers, and team personnel whose roles are often overlooked in mainstream coverage.
At TJ13, Clara contributes long-form features and narrative-driven pieces that explore the personal and professional journeys within Formula 1. This includes coverage of career-defining moments, internal team dynamics, and the human impact of high-pressure competition.
Clara’s work brings depth and perspective to the sport, complementing news and analysis with stories that highlight the people behind the machinery.
Clara has a particular interest in how personal narratives intersect with performance, and how individual experiences shape outcomes across a Formula 1 season.
