Team story
Origins
Audi’s arrival did not begin with a blank sheet. In October 2022, the manufacturer chose Sauber as its Formula 1 partner, finding an organisation in Hinwil that already knew the business of Grand Prix racing. The new element lay elsewhere: for the 2026 season, Audi would also build its own power unit in Neuburg an der Donau.
Two locations and two sets of work had to come together in one car.
The Formula 1 journey
The R26 opened the new name’s racing story with Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. The German brought many seasons of experience; the Brazilian had just completed his first year in Formula 1 with Sauber. The pair therefore reached Audi’s debut having already shared a championship, while the chassis and engine introduced a change far more substantial than the badge on the bodywork.
Historical timeline
Three chapters in the story of Audi
Three episodes to revisit the people, cars and races that shaped this journey.
First appearance · Australian Grand Prix
Gabriel Bortoleto · Australian Grand Prix 2026. The recorded position is P9; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This is the first recorded race start, or the first entry if the team never started a race.
Sporting landmark · British Grand Prix
Gabriel Bortoleto · British Grand Prix 2026. The recorded position is P8; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This marks the first win or podium where one exists, otherwise the highest recorded placing for this constructor.
Latest recorded appearance · Spanish Grand Prix
Gabriel Bortoleto · Spanish Grand Prix 2026. The recorded position is P13; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This is the latest start in the archived snapshot, not the end of the team’s activities.
A distinctive way of racing
What sets this team apart is its decision to tackle both halves of the car together. Hinwil develops the chassis and handles trackside operations; Neuburg works on the power unit. For a manufacturer making its first World Championship entry, Sauber’s experience provides a head start in the paddock, but it cannot replace the work needed to make a new engine competitive.
The R26’s story begins where that continuity meets this new challenge.
What remains
It is still too early to speak of an Audi legacy in Formula 1. The 2026 season is the beginning of a programme, not its final reckoning. Yet the step that made it possible is already clear: a car manufacturer chose to acquire and transform an existing team, rather than simply put its name on it.
Audi’s results belong to this new identity; Sauber’s earlier achievements retain their place in the Swiss team’s history.
