Audiโข Officially announces โFormula 1โ Entry with Revolutionary 2026โ Car Design
INGOLSTADT, Germany โ- Audi today formally โannounced its entry into Formula 1 in 2026, coinciding with a important overhaul of the sport’s regulations. The German manufacturer views the upcoming โrule changesโ as a prime opportunity to build a successful long-term presence in the premier motorsport series.
“Entering Formulaโข 1 โhasโค neverโ been better than inโข the last 30 years โwith this rule change,” stated Audi board member Gernotโฃ Dรถllner. He further emphasizedโค Audi’s ancient success in racing, adding, โฃ”Wheneverโฃ Audi has enteredโค a โขracing series, Audi has โbeen successful.”
The โข2026 regulations, decided by theโ worldโ association in 2023, represent a dramatic shift in Formula 1โ technology. Keyโ changes include:
* โขโข Increased Electric Power: โ The proportion of electric power in the engines will significantly โincrease, with the battery generating 480 hp – a threefold increase from โขthe currentโข 160 hp. Simultaneously, theโ combustion engine’s power output willโค decrease fromโ 750 hp to 540 hp.
* Sustainable Fuel: All โฃdrive units will be required to utilize 100 percent sustainable fuel. Combined with moreโข efficient aerodynamics and reduced combustion engineโฃ horsepower, this isโ projected to save 15 to 20 percent fuel.
* โโ โ Enhanced Energy Recovery: Theโ amount of energy gained during braking will double.
* Aerodynamic & Dimensional Changes: Cars willโข be narrower,โ shrinking from 200 to 190โข centimeters, and feature a shorter wheelbase (360cm to 340cm). Movable front and rear wings (ten centimetersโฃ narrower โขat the front) are designed โขto increaseโข cornering speeds.
*โฃ Weight Reduction: Racers will shed 30โฃ kilograms, reducing the maximum carโ weightโค from 798 kg to 768โ kg.
Dรถllner โขpositioned the Formula 1 entry as “part of something bigger,” describingโข it as “the โฃnext โstep inโค the realignment of the company โwith the aim ofโฃ strengthening our position in โglobalโ competition.” โฃHe believes โthe demanding environment of Formula 1 will foster a “new performance orientation โขthroughout the company and a catalyst for change towardsโฃ a leaner,faster and more innovativeโ Audi.”
Development โof theโฃ R26 drive unit began in 2022, with initial testing conducted exclusively in simulators. On-trackโข testingโ is scheduled โฃto commence january 26-30, 2025,โ in Barcelona, initiallyโ behind closedโ doors. Public testing will follow in Bahrain on February 11th,offering fans their first โglimpse of โคthe competitive landscape.
Audi’s Formula 1 cars will be visually distinctive, sportingโค a color scheme ofโค titanium, carbon black, and a โnewly introduced Audiโฃ red. The โcompanyโ aims to create “the โmost striking car on the โคrace track when entering the premier class of motorsport.”