Audi Revolut F1 Team Test-fires Car Ahead of 2026 Season Debut
Audi F1 fires up its 2026 car at Hinwil, marking a major step before its debut season and aligning with new Formula 1 rules focused on electric power.
By Divyam Dubey
The Audi Revolut F1 Team has taken a big step into Formula 1 by successfully firing up its 2026 car for the first time. The milestone moment happened at the Hinwil factory in Switzerland, where Audi powered up its new hybrid power unit inside the chassis. For motorsport fans, this is the point where a project stops being drawings and simulations and starts to feel real. Engineers from Hinwil and Neuburg worked side by side as the full package ran together for the first time. This is the point where a project stops being drawings and simulations and starts to feel real, as teams see systems come alive and confirm that years of planning are finally turning into a working Formula 1 car aimed at the 2026 grid.
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Audi’s Formula 1 entry is built around its takeover of the Sauber team in 2024. The full rebrand comes into effect from 1 January 2026, marking the end of Sauber’s long-running Ferrari engine era, apart from its BMW-backed years between 2006 and 2009. Hinwil remains the heart of the team, supported by the powertrain operation in Neuburg, Germany, and a technical centre in Bicester, UK.
The fire-up fits perfectly with the new 2026 Formula 1 regulations, which put more focus on electric power. Audi brings experience from hybrid and electric racing across endurance racing, Formula E, and rally-raid. From 2026, Formula 1 will feature five engine suppliers: Audi, Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda, and Red Bull Powertrains, with Ford's support.
This first test was a static run, with no wheel movement involved. Engineers focused on energy recovery systems, battery management, and overall integration. The data collected will now feed into reliability checks and performance mapping, while chassis development continues alongside power unit work at Hinwil.
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Project head Mattia Binotto called the fire-up the start of a new phase, while team principal Jonathan Wheatley pointed to the teamwork behind the milestone. Audi will launch its season in Berlin on 20 January 2026, followed by pre-season testing in Barcelona and Bahrain, before the season begins at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
