the breakdown
- Audi Revolut has officially debuted its Formula 1 car for the 2026 season.
- The R26 features a striking combination of titanium, carbon black, and the new Audi Red.
- Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will be behind the wheel, led by team principal Jonathan Wheatley.
From the first announcement back in August 2022 to our first glimpse of the livery late last year, today marks the official release of the final livery and details for Audi’s F1 team ahead of the 2026 season. Color us excited.
The team will compete as Audi Revolut F1 following the German automaker’s acquisition of Sauber following the 2025 season. At the helm is team principal Jonathan Wheatley, with Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto reprising their roles as the team’s drivers.
The Drivers
For longtime Formula 1 fans, Hülkenberg needs little introduction. He began his F1 career with Williams in 2010 and went on to race for teams including Aston Martin, Force India, and most recently, Kick Sauber. Along the way, he also competed in the World Endurance Championship and IndyCar.
Bortoleto, meanwhile, is a bit of a newcomer. The Brazilian-born driver captured the Formula 3 title in 2023 before spending his rookie Formula 1 season with Sauber in 2025. Now, he joins the Audi Revolut team alongside the veteran Hülkenberg.
The Car
Audi’s final livery looks nearly identical to the initial design revealed on the R26 concept back in November. And we’re glad it does. The car features a blend of titanium, carbon black, and the new Audi Red, now finished with a full Revolut livery.
Silver dominates the bodywork, with Audi Red and black accents toward the rear. Audi’s iconic four-ring logo is prominently displayed on the sides of the air intake and across the rear wing, finished in the same bold Audi Red.
Hülkenberg and Bortoleto will wear matching black and silver race suits, highlighted with Audi Red accents to complete the look.
Designed to Win
As Audi CEO Gernot Döllner puts it, the brand didn’t enter Formula 1 just to compete: “We want to win.” To that end, Audi has developed a new 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 for the 2026 season, paired with a powerful hybrid energy recovery system and a bespoke transmission.
The car made its official debut today in Berlin, Germany, and will hit the track for the first time in Bahrain during preseason testing in February. The 2026 Formula 1 season officially gets underway at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in March.
Motor1's Take: Audi's first F1 livery looks good—really good. Amongst a sea of blues, blacks, and whites, the titanium exterior with Audi Red accents is bound to stand out on the grid.
