The Four Rings Get Rolling: Audi’s R26 F1 Car Hits the Racetrack

[Source: Audi F1]

The Audi Revolut F1 Team shared some more teaser pictures of their R26 racecar last weekend. At the same time, we got to hear the new Audi F1 for the first time. The car was captured doing some shakedown laps at Barcelona and video clips quickly circulated on social media.  

The R26 ran in an all-black livery and Audi was careful not to share any closeups of the car just yet. The official reveal is a week away and we will get our unobscured look at that time. But Audi is playing it close to the vest until then. But the bigger story right now is not how the car looks, but how it sounds.

Audi R26 Sounds

Several clips of the R26 have been passed around social media. One is shared on X by RobertoF1. To watch it, click HERE. Audi is choosing to run with their own power unit for their inaugural season. We don’t yet know how it will perform, but to our ears, it sounds pretty good. It may not match the incredible sound of the naturally aspirated V10s that ruled F1 tracks 30 years ago. But for a 1.6L V6 hybrid it sounds exciting. Especially when you consider that more power than ever will be generated by electric motors this year.

Speaking of excitement. We imagine that the Audi team is thrilled to finally see their creation turn some hot laps. Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto got their first test of the new F1 car and are surely eager for more time behind the wheel.  

The Audi Revolut F1 Team may not be competing for a championship in their first season, but even the most successful teams have to start somewhere. As the team said in their Instagram post “First day. First laps. First chance for our drivers to experience the car. The road ahead starts right here.”

We can’t wait to see where that road leads. There are many unknowns at this point, but there is one thing we know for sure. We will be here cheering Audi on every step of the way.