Audi R26 Revealed in Barcelona F1 2026 Shakedown Tension

Formula 1, Sportrik Media – Audi Revolut F1 Team has completed the first public running of its R26 challenger during a closed-door shakedown at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, making it the first 2026-spec Formula 1 car to be seen on track ahead of the new technical era under FIA regulations.

The Barcelona outing marked the first on-track evaluation of Audi’s fully in-house power unit following its takeover of Sauber, as the German manufacturer transitions from a customer operation into a full works programme. Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto were both scheduled to drive the car during the filming day, allowing Audi engineers to begin correlating simulator and dyno data with real-world behaviour.

Despite the limited and grainy footage captured from around Turn 13, several key regulatory features of the 2026 car could be identified. With the new rules reducing overall car width by 100mm, the R26 appears visibly narrower, while its raised nose and in-washing front wing reflect the FIA’s renewed focus on wake management and front-wheel turbulence control. The endplates also feature a new footplate and flick-up geometry designed to guide airflow cleanly around the tyres.

Perhaps the most revealing technical choice is Audi’s move to a push-rod front suspension layout, reversing Sauber’s previous pull-rod configuration introduced during the 2022-25 ground-effect era that had been popularised by McLaren and Red Bull Racing. With 2026 floors less sensitive to ride-height changes and softer spring rates expected, the kinematic advantages that once favoured pull-rod systems have diminished, making push-rod designs more attractive for setup and aero stability.

The sidepod architecture also appears to diverge from the Red Bull-style downwash philosophy that dominated the previous regulation cycle, instead adopting an in-washing solution that draws airflow toward the car’s centreline to energise the Coke-bottle region. If the flow remains attached, this approach can improve rear-end efficiency by shielding the wake from the rear tyres, a crucial factor under the tighter aerodynamic constraints of 2026.

With its first shakedown completed, Audi has now formally entered the 2026 development race, converting years of planning into tangible on-track data. How effectively the R26’s new aerodynamic, suspension and powertrain concepts converge will define Audi’s competitive credibility in its debut season, a storyline that continues to be followed closely by Sportrik Media at https://sportrik.com.