P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Audi is set to spring a surprise on its rivals by becoming the first team to debut its 2026 F1 challenger in Barcelona as the countdown to pre-season testing Audi is set to spring a surprise on its rivals by becoming the first team to debut its 2026 F1 challenger ahead of pre-season testing in Barcelona.
Audi is making headlines in Formula 1 by revealing its 2026 challenger ahead of pre-season testing in Barcelona. The German car giant, after acquiring Sauber completely, focused on power unit development and team integration at its Hinwil base in Switzerland for the past three years. The successful fire-up of its inaugural power unit at Audi’s Competency Centre in Germany on December 19th marks a significant milestone. The Audi R26, developed in Hinwil and recently tested alongside the power unit, is ready for its track debut before the closed test in Barcelona starting January 26th. Despite limitations on running programmes, Audi aims to gather crucial data during this important phase to prepare for its official competitive debut in the upcoming F1 season.
