Audi Suffers Further Technical Issue in Barcelona Test 2026

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - the Audi F1 Team encountered another technical setback on Day 3 of the Formula 1 2026 pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, as its R26 once again came to a halt during on-track running on Wednesday.

The Audi stopped on circuit while being driven by Nico Hülkenberg, reportedly pulling over between Turns 9 and 10 and triggering a red flag interruption. The incident further disrupted Audi’s limited testing schedule and added to a challenging opening week for the German manufacturer.

It marks the second mechanical issue for Audi during the Barcelona test. On Monday, the team made its on-track debut with Gabriel Bortoleto but completed just 27 laps before encountering a problem that forced the car back into the garage. Audi subsequently elected to halt running for the remainder of the day in order to fully diagnose and resolve the issue.

The recurrence of a stoppage on Day 3 once again compromised Audi’s programme, although it remains unclear whether the latest problem is directly related to Monday’s issue. With testing conducted behind closed doors and track time strictly limited, each interruption carries increased significance for system validation and data correlation.

While the Barcelona shakedown is designed to expose early reliability concerns with new-generation cars, the frequency of Audi’s issues is likely to draw attention as the team embarks on its debut campaign in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. Audi has entered the grid with a full works operation, including a newly developed in-house power unit.

Audi was not the only team to cause a red flag during the session, as Oliver Bearman also stopped on track at Turn 2 earlier in the day. However, for Audi, the focus now turns to restoring reliability and maximising remaining test mileage ahead of the next phase of pre-season preparation for the 2026 Formula 1 season.