The expansion of the F1 calendar has gradually shortened the winter break, but the transition between 2025 and 2026 will be more extreme than ever.
Drivers will spend the first days of January in the simulator and attending meetings, before flying to Barcelona for the first pre-season tests (January 26-30th).
Engineers in the factory will also be working flat-out over the coming weeks, especially in the case of engine manufacturers. New names like Audi face a unique challenge to be ready for a new era of Formula 1.
However, not for the first time, there positive developments are emerging about Audi’s 2026 progress.
Audi could be first team to debut 2026 car in private test
When Audi first confirmed they would make their F1 debut in 2026, there were some doubts. The German brand hesitated for some time before committing to Formula 1, contributing to this uncertainty.
Of course, they are not starting entirely from scratch. Their takeover of Sauber means the factory in Hinwil continues to work on aerodynamics – leaving engine development to the engineers in Neuberg.
Still, producing an F1 engine – and a competitive one at that – is an immense undertaking.
The complexity of this task is partly why Mattia Binotto was appointed Chief Technical Officer. The Italian’s track record of overseeing title-winning engines at Ferrari speaks for itself, and makes him better placed than most to guide Audi’s progress.
It was only recently that Audi confirmed they are happy with the reliability of their 2026 engine. These official statements from the team were consistent with some of the reports from early Autumn.
There appears to be more good news for the team. According to Spanish outlet grada3 -Audi will debut their 2026 car for the first time in a private test at the beginning of January.
German outlet AMuS has since confirmed this report’s validity. Audi are understood to have been working towards an early test for some time.
Should everything go according to plan, they could be the first F1 team to test next year’s cars on track.
To be clear, private testing is very restricted in modern Formula 1. This means Audi will be limited in the data they can collect, assuming they indeed run their new challenger in early January.
However, even in a private test, valuable insights and correlation can be obtained. If the German squad can complete a successful test weeks before pre-season testing officially begins, it should provide a solid platform.
On the engine front, going through the motions and getting early feedback is invaluable.
Cautious optimism around the Hinwil-based outfit
As is often the case, there are many variables – both known and unknown – that decide success and failure in F1. This is especially relevant before a regulation change, and even more for a new manufacturer like Audi.
Because of this, setting realistic objectives is important. As Mattia Binotto himself has said previously, Audi anticipate a deficit to some of the other power units.
The first target will be to ensure this gap is not too big, both in terms of performance and reliability.
Inevitably, a brand like Audi is not simply in Formula 1 to make up the numbers. Their ambition is to climb the field and become a top team by 2030.
Because of this, there has been intense work behind the scenes to ensure they are in a strong enough position in early 2026 to build upon for the remaining years of this regulatory cycle.
Whilst Audi must overcome many hurdles, there are undoubtedly positive signs about their F1 project.
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Main photo: Andy Hone/LAT Images (Sauber Media Hub)