Audi became the first Formula 1 team to test its 2026 challenger on track, and in the process shared a first glimpse of the impending noise that will soundtrack grands prix this season. Now, team boss Jonathan Wheatley hailed the new engine note of the cars as “really good”.
For 2026, F1 will roll out new power units that use a near-50:50 split in power developed by the internal combustion engine and the electrical components. This marks an increase in reliance on electrical energy from the last generation of hybrid cars, which were slammed by drivers and fans for the sound they made while racing.
