Audi Runs First 2026 F1 Car in Barcelona Shakedown

Formula 1, Sportrik Media – Audi has taken a major milestone towards the new Formula 1 regulations by becoming the first team to run a 2026 specification car on track, completing a private shakedown of the Audi R26 at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya on January 9, 2026.

The test was conducted under FIA filming day regulations, limiting the running to 200 kilometres on demonstration tyres supplied by Pirelli. Although the car ran in a black carbon camouflage livery, several technical features were visible, including a double pushrod suspension layout at both the front and rear, as well as a visibly slimmer chassis reflecting the 100 mm reduction in car width mandated by the 2026 rules.

Audi Revolut F1 race drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto shared driving duties during the shakedown, focusing not on lap times but on system integration, power unit reliability and the basic functionality of the new active aerodynamic systems that will define the next generation of Formula 1 cars.

Prior to its on track debut, the Audi project reached a critical milestone on December 19, 2025, when the power unit was fired up for the first time at the team’s Hinwil headquarters in Switzerland. This marked the first occasion that the Audi built power unit from Neuburg was run together with the Hinwil designed chassis as a complete car, with the success of the procedure officially confirmed on January 7, 2026 ahead of the Barcelona test.

With these two key steps completed, Audi is now entering an intensive phase of preparation for its competitive debut. The 2026 Formula 1 regulations, which place a strong emphasis on a higher electrical power contribution and the use of active aerodynamics, make early validation of hardware and software integration particularly critical for a new manufacturer.

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