Audi unveil new F1 car livery and make bold promise ahead of 2026 season

Audi have pledged to challenge for the Formula 1 championship by their fifth season in the sport. Former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto, now heading their F1 project, made the commitment on Wednesday as the German manufacturer revealed their livery concept for their 2026 debut season in Germany.

Having acquired a stake in Sauber in 2022 before completing full ownership in March 2024, Audi chose to delay implementing their branding until next year. On Wednesday evening, at their F1 power unit facility in Neuburg, north of Munich, they presented the design for their inaugural machine, the R26.

The fluorescent green of the team's present appearance has been completely eliminated, substituted by the manufacturer's more classic shades of black, silver and a specially-developed 'Audi red'. These visuals do not represent the finished livery yet, as sponsor decals will need to be incorporated and additional commercial agreements are to be finalised before lights out in Melbourne next March.

The actual car will be presented in January. However, it is in these colours, Binotto maintains, that Audi intend to dominate the F1 landscape. The Italian said: "The goal is clear: to fight for championships by 2030. That journey takes time, the right people and a mindset of continuous improvement.

"Formula 1 is one of the most competitive environments. Becoming a champion is a journey of progress. Mistakes will happen, but learning from them is what drives transformation."

Audi's chief executive, Gernot Dollner, has expressed his ambitious yet realistic plans for the company's entry into Formula 1. He stated: "We are not entering Formula 1 just to be there. We want to win. At the same time, we know that you don't become a top team in Formula 1 overnight. It takes time, perseverance and tireless questioning of the status quo."

Under the leadership of team principal Jonathan Wheatley, who took up his post in April after a lengthy stint as sporting director at Red Bull, the Sauber team has already shown significant improvement. Following a disappointing 2024 season where they only managed to secure four points and ended up at the bottom of the championship, it seemed like another stagnant season was on the horizon.

However, with a fresh driver line-up consisting of seasoned professional Nico Hulkenberg and promising newcomer Gabriel Bortoleto, they have amassed 62 points this season. The standout moment of the season was undoubtedly Hulkenberg's podium finish at Silverstone - marking the German's first top-three finish in his 239th start.

Wheatley is confident that he has the right team in place to achieve their goals. He declared: "Championship-winning teams are not built on magic - they are built on people who believe: in each other, in the process, and in the destination.

"Our drivers, Nico and Gabi, embody that spirit. They bring passion and hunger and treat every lap as a chance to learn and move forward. We have a mindset that dares to redefine what a racing team can be."