Audi’s Formula 1 ambitions come to roaring life.
As the 2026 Formula 1 season draws nearer, the anticipated debuts of new and returning names to the grid are quickly approaching, and one of the most talked-about ones is that of Audi. The Audi Revolut F1 Team has spent years taking shape, and as its promised 2026 debut rapidly counts down to happening, the team has announced that the official launch will take place in Berlin on January 20.
At that launch, the official racing livery of the team will be revealed, but before then, the team has celebrated another milestone: the successful inaugural fire-up of its car. On December 19, the event took place at the team’s facility in Hinwil, Switzerland, and it marked the first time the new Audi Power Unit was run while installed in the chassis, an important stepping stone in bringing the dream of racing on the F1 grid to reality.
As 2026 marks major changes for the elite and prestigious motorsport series, the Audi F1 car runs on sustainable fuel that powers a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. In addition, the powertrain also features an Energy Recovery System, which allows the car to recover and use kinetic energy from braking. In total, the estimated power of the new Audi F1 car is over 1,000 horsepower, and that power will be sent through an 8-speed gearbox. As Audi prepares to start racing in F1 this year, the successful first fire-up of its car means that it’s well on its way there.
