Audi Celebrates Major Milestone as Its 2026 F1 Car Starts to Come to Life

German manufacturer Audi has marked a crucial step in its Formula 1 debut preparations by successfully firing up its 2026 challenger, the R26, for the first time with the power unit installed in the chassis. This milestone took place on 19 December 2025 at Audi’s Hinwil facility in Switzerland, signalling that the team’s development is progressing well ahead of its inaugural season.

The event represents the first moment the Audi Power Unit has run while fully integrated with the new R26 chassis — an important achievement that validates months of engineering and collaboration between Audi’s facilities in Neuburg (Germany), Hinwil (Switzerland), and their Technology Centre in Bicester (UK). Team leaders described the fire-up as both a symbolic and technical breakthrough, boosting morale and underscoring the project’s momentum.

Audi’s arrival on the F1 grid in 2026 comes after its acquisition and full takeover of the Sauber operation, transforming the Swiss outfit into the Audi Revolut F1 Team. The upcoming season will usher in sweeping rule changes that shake up car design and power units, making this first successful ignition of the engine a timely indicator that the factory effort is on track.

Speaking about the milestone, project leaders emphasised the collective effort behind the achievement, noting how the integration of engine and chassis work reflects the deep cooperation across departments. Looking ahead, the team’s next major events include the official global launch, set for 20 January 2026 in Berlin, where Audi will reveal its full livery and complete visual identity before taking the R26 to the track for pre-season testing in Barcelona later in January.

This first fire-up is more than just a technical check-box — it symbolises Audi’s entry into the pinnacle of motorsport and lays a foundation for further development as it prepares to compete against the world’s best teams in the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship.