Audi Puts New R26 Car to the Test in Barcelona Ahead of 2026 F1 Season Opener
In a significant milestone for the German team, Audi became the first outfit to run their 2026 Formula 1 car on track at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, kicking off what promises to be an exciting new season under the sport's revamped technical regulations.
The R26, Audi's newly-minted F1 machine, took to the asphalt in Barcelona as part of a filming day, which allowed the team to capture footage and assess their car's performance before the official pre-season test. While the three images posted on Instagram by Audi did little to reveal the car's design, they marked an important step forward for the new-look team.
Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto put the R26 through its paces at Barcelona, with team principal Jonathan Wheatley and F1 head Mattia Binotto also in attendance. The team's Instagram post declared "We're officially rolling," as they marked a major milestone in their preparations for the 2026 season.
Audi will formally launch their new-look team and R26 car livery at an event in Berlin on January 20, five days ahead of the behind-closed-doors first test. With the Red Bull teams already making headlines with their 'launch season' plans, Audi is set to take center stage as they embark on a new chapter in their F1 journey.
The three pre-season testing events are designed to shake down cars before the first proper test, and several teams will be using one of their permitted filming days for this purpose. With 11 teams now confirmed for the 2026 grid, the stage is set for an action-packed season that promises to showcase the latest innovations in F1 technology.
For fans eager to catch every moment of the 2026 F1 season, Sky Sports will be broadcasting all 22 races live, with the Australian Grand Prix marking the season opener on March 6-8.
In a significant milestone for the German team, Audi became the first outfit to run their 2026 Formula 1 car on track at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, kicking off what promises to be an exciting new season under the sport's revamped technical regulations.
The R26, Audi's newly-minted F1 machine, took to the asphalt in Barcelona as part of a filming day, which allowed the team to capture footage and assess their car's performance before the official pre-season test. While the three images posted on Instagram by Audi did little to reveal the car's design, they marked an important step forward for the new-look team.
Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto put the R26 through its paces at Barcelona, with team principal Jonathan Wheatley and F1 head Mattia Binotto also in attendance. The team's Instagram post declared "We're officially rolling," as they marked a major milestone in their preparations for the 2026 season.
Audi will formally launch their new-look team and R26 car livery at an event in Berlin on January 20, five days ahead of the behind-closed-doors first test. With the Red Bull teams already making headlines with their 'launch season' plans, Audi is set to take center stage as they embark on a new chapter in their F1 journey.
The three pre-season testing events are designed to shake down cars before the first proper test, and several teams will be using one of their permitted filming days for this purpose. With 11 teams now confirmed for the 2026 grid, the stage is set for an action-packed season that promises to showcase the latest innovations in F1 technology.
For fans eager to catch every moment of the 2026 F1 season, Sky Sports will be broadcasting all 22 races live, with the Australian Grand Prix marking the season opener on March 6-8.
they're testing it out in barcelona and it looks like things are looking up for them! 
i wonder what the car looks like tho, no pics from audi yet but i guess that's a filming day thing 
they're getting all set for the 2026 season opener which is gonna be so lit! 
. The fact that they're already putting their new R26 car through its paces in Barcelona, even if just as part of a filming day, shows how serious they are about making an impact in the sport. Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto looking sharp out there too! 
. With Sky Sports broadcasting all 22 races live, fans are in for a treat this year! March 6-8 can't come soon enough... 
. Nico and Gabriel were really pushing the car hard, I can tell it was getting their attention! 
Team principal Jonathan Wheatley looks pretty confident about this new season too, fingers crossed they can make some real noise in Berlin on January 20 
- it's like they're giving us a sneak peek into their F1 journey 
. The fact that Sky Sports will be broadcasting all 22 races live is also super exciting for fans 
! I'm not sure what the new technical regulations will bring, but I'm hyped to see the latest innovations in F1 tech 
!
). Barcelona was the perfect place for them to test it out, all that history and whatnot. The Instagram post was pretty cool, too - I love how they said "We're officially rolling" 
!
... like, can't they just tell us what their car looks like already? 
... anyway, can't wait for the season opener in australia 
... maybe we'll get some decent racing 
it's gonna be a wild ride with all 11 teams competing for the top spot 
can't wait to see the racing action live on tv 
Sky sports is broadcasting all 22 races, yay! 
Jonathan Wheatley and Mattia Binotto were there too which is awesome! I'm super hyped for the new season 
! The R26 car is looking sharp and I love that Audi is taking a different approach to F1. It's gonna be interesting to see how their team dynamics play out, especially with Nico Hulkenberg on board.
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. Nico and Gabriel must have been super nervous driving that thing around Barcelona 
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. It's pretty cool that they're making such a big deal about it before the official season starts.
cant wait to see what they bring to the table this season!
I'm so stoked for Audi's new F1 season! They're really shaking things up and bringing some fresh vibes to the track