Audi took their new F1 car for a run at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, becoming the first team to get their 2026 challenger on track.
It’s quite an achievement considering Audi are one of two debutants on the grid this year, joining Cadillac. While they’ve taken over Sauber’s infrastructure following their acquisition of the Swiss outfit, they still had to develop their own power unit from scratch.
According to reports from Auto Motor und Sport, German driver Nico Hulkenberg was behind the wheel for the initial laps at a circuit that will soon host pre-season testing later this month.
Teams are permitted two filming days each season, with a maximum distance of 200 kilometres, which is around 42 laps. During these sessions, Audi ran on Pirelli demo tyres rather than standard race rubber.
Audi debut 2026 car with all-black livery in first F1 test
For Audi and Red Bull Powertrains, reliability is a key priority in the early stages. Every manufacturer is navigating new ground with the nearly 50% electric power units, but Mercedes, Ferrari and Honda have decades of experience to lean on.
The initial run reportedly went off without any problems, which would have come as a relief to everyone there. While it was the first time the engine had been run in the car, it had already seen plenty of bench testing.
“Spanish spies” did catch a glimpse of the car running an unpainted black livery except for the Four Rings logo on its rear wing. No photos have been made public yet, so this remains unconfirmed for now.
At this stage, Audi aren’t expected to release much information about their progress as they’re keen to hold back any advantages they might have. However, given the weather conditions were ideal, warm and dry, they likely gathered some useful early data from the session.
Audi to be fourth team to launch 2026 F1 car
Red Bull and Racing Bulls are set to be the first teams to launch their 2026 cars, with Haas coming shortly after.
But while the launches generate plenty of hype, teams aren’t expected to show much detail. Most will use show cars or digital renders, keeping their real designs under wraps for now.
Meanwhile, AMuS reports that Ferrari and Williams plan to hit the track before the private testing begins in Barcelona. Both teams are expected to use one of their filming days before then.
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