As Audi edges closer to its maiden Grand Prix appearance in 2026, team principal Jonathan Wheatley has lifted the curtain on the emotion, energy and optimism surging through the project.
On Tuesday, the German manufacturer formally unveiled a show version of its 2026 challenger, the R26, at a high-profile launch event in Berlin, marking another milestone in a journey that began with the announcement in 2022 of Audi’s takeover of Sauber.
The team will debut in Australia with a car powered by its own in-house Formula 1 power unit – a defining statement of intent.
A Dream Made Real
Speaking at Tuesday evening’s launch, Wheatley admitted the scale of the moment caught him by surprise.
“I think it's a manifestation of a dream almost,” he said when reflecting on the occasion.
“We've been talking about the Audi Formula 1 project. Well, today it feels like the Audi Revolut Formula 1 team. It's real, it's here, everyone's here... I hope you're enjoying yourself as well! It's an extraordinary feeling.”
©Audi
For Wheatley, the transformation from concept to fully formed works team has been deeply personal.
“It's all coming together and when you see it – when you see the car, when you see everyone's branding on the car and this becomes a team – it’s an extraordinary feeling.
“Honestly, I'm a little bit more emotional than I thought I'd be.”
Those emotions were heightened by the fact Audi wasted no time on putting its 2026 car on track, completing a filming day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya earlier this month – making it the first outfit to do so under the new regulations.
First Laps, Big Emotions – and a Promising Sound
Wheatley described the Barcelona outing as a triumph of teamwork, especially given the backdrop of setbacks the squad had to overcome late last season.
“If you look at the build-up to that, to have launched the car that early in terms of running it on track – to pass those crash tests that you need to pass before you're allowed to run a car the first time – at the same time, if you remember, we were repairing and trying to get ourselves back up to speed after the accidents in Brazil [Bortoleto suffered two crashes in Sao Paulo, including one heavy one in the Sprint].”
©Audi
What followed, he explained, was a moment that captured the essence of Audi’s F1 ambition.
“The work that went on in the factory, the planning, the absolute perfect execution of the team to do that,” he added.
“Then, honestly, to walk down into the race shop and see that powertrain being attached to this chassis to make the Audi Formula 1 car, it was a real extraordinary moment for me.
"Then to see [the car] out of the garage – and come back – was again [extraordinary]… and I think there's something else I took from it. I think these engines sound good!”
That last remark is likely to excite fans, with the 2026 regulations placing renewed focus on power unit design and sustainability – and, it seems, not at the expense of spectacle.
A Moving Target Ahead of Melbourne
Despite the early running, Wheatley made clear that what fans have seen so far is only the beginning. With the Barcelona shakedown and two pre-season tests in Bahrain still to come, Audi – like its rivals – expects rapid evolution.
“I think, as you know, to be running the car as early as we did, we made a decision on a launch bodywork. You can probably imagine that there's a lot more to come over the course of the season.”
As for where Audi might stack up once the lights go out in Australia, Wheatley struck a realistic but upbeat tone, acknowledging the unknowns that come with a clean regulatory slate.
“I think if you're behind... it's the team that can develop the fastest and the hardest, and most successfully, that's going to get themselves back on track again.
“It's a whole new set of technical regulations. What surprises are there? We probably won't really know about the performance of the cars, even in Melbourne.
“It will take a little while for us to understand who's got the best package, what do we need to aim for and is it us?”
For now, Audi’s focus is clear: build, learn, and enjoy the extraordinary feeling of finally being part of Formula 1.
Read also: Audi’s F1 era begins as R26 livery is revealed in Berlin
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