FOUR RINGS - ONE TO RULE THEM ALL - AUDI'S FORMULA 1 PREP IS LEADING THE CHARGE.
Audi is lining up on motorsport’s ultimate grid. In 2026, the four rings will officially enter Formula 1, and this isn’t a branding exercise or a toe dipped in the paddock. It’s a full factory assault, meticulously planned, deeply technical, and very, very German. Preparation is already in full swing, with Audi’s future F1 operation spread across three strategic locations at the heart of global motorsport.
Powertrain development sits in Neuburg an der Donau, where Audi Formula Racing GmbH is building the brand’s first Formula 1 power unit in over a decade. This marks a historic return of F1 engine development to Germany. Meanwhile, Hinwil in Switzerland becomes the nerve centre for chassis development and race operations, drawing on more than 30 years of Formula 1 experience from the former Sauber team. Completing the triangle is Audi’s Technology Office in Bicester, right in the middle of the UK’s “Motorsport Valley”, giving Audi direct access to the sport’s deepest talent pool and most influential partners.
Formula 1’s 2026 regulations make the timing feel almost inevitable. Greater electrification, sustainable fuels and strict cost controls align perfectly with Audi’s long-standing motorsport philosophy. The new power units will pair highly efficient 1.6-litre turbocharged combustion engines, producing around 400 kW, with electric motors delivering nearly equal output. Increased recuperation and advanced energy management place hybrid technology at the centre of performance, making Formula 1 the ideal global stage for Audi to demonstrate Vorsprung durch Technik in its most visible form yet.
At Neuburg, Audi’s Competence Centre Motorsport has been expanded specifically for the F1 project. The facility now includes a new 3,000-square-metre building housing advanced test benches, technical rooms and workstations. Every element of the Audi F1 power unit is being developed and built in-house, from the combustion engine and gearbox to the energy recovery system, battery and control electronics. It’s a clean-sheet approach, driven by precision and long-term ambition.
Chassis development and race operations will be handled in Hinwil, Switzerland, where Audi has fully acquired the Sauber Group. This move consolidates decades of Formula 1 knowledge under the Audi banner and creates the foundation for future growth, including strategic investment from Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. From 2026 onwards, Hinwil will be the operational home of the Audi F1 factory team, blending Audi engineering with Swiss racing expertise.
The British outpost in Bicester adds another vital layer. Opened in 2025, the Technology Office places Audi directly inside Motorsport Valley, surrounded by elite suppliers, engineers and strategic partners. Based at Bicester Motion, a 179-hectare high-tech industrial campus, the location strengthens Audi’s access to world-class motorsport knowledge and talent, with Motorsport UK also calling the site home.
Visually, Audi’s Formula 1 identity will follow the brand’s new design philosophy: clear, technical, intelligent and emotional. The Audi R26 Concept revealed in Munich offered the first real glimpse of the colour scheme and design language, setting the tone ahead of the full car reveal scheduled for January 2026.
On track, Audi is backing a balanced driver pairing. Nico Hülkenberg brings experience measured in nearly 250 Grand Prix starts, signing on for the Audi F1 factory team after joining Sauber in 2024. Alongside him is Gabriel Bortoleto, one of the most exciting young talents in single-seater racing. Bortoleto claimed both the FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles in consecutive rookie seasons, a rare achievement shared by only a handful of drivers in history. Overseeing the entire programme is Mattia Binotto, Head of the Audi F1 Project, responsible for development across Neuburg, Hinwil and Bicester. Jonathan Wheatley steps in as Team Principal and Management Board Spokesperson, shaping the team’s transformation and leading race operations while representing Audi at the highest strategic level within Formula 1.
Take a look at the YouTube video from Formula Addict that gives you all the info you need about Audi joining the elite sport of Formula One: Why is Audi Joining F1? | Formula Addict
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