P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Audi will shake down its Formula 1 car at Barcelona on Friday in a major milestone ahead of the German manufacturer’s debut
Audi will conduct a shakedown of its Formula 1 car at Barcelona on Friday, signaling a significant step before the German manufacturer’s debut in the sport. The Audi R26 is slated to be the first car for the 2026 season to hit the track, with a filming day set at the Spanish Grand Prix venue. This marks Audi’s first on-track appearance since rebranding Sauber for the upcoming season, including the maiden runs for Audi’s inaugural F1 engine. The shakedown happening earlier than F1’s official testing at the same circuit suggests a focus on early mileage to promptly address any initial issues under project leader Mattia Binotto’s reliability emphasis. Binotto had previously mentioned that the current version of the Audi F1 engine in December will see further developments before the final homologated version in March. With a solid foundation laid, team principal Jonathan Wheatley emphasized the recent engine fire-up and the upcoming shakedown as crucial milestones, leading up to the official launch of the Audi Revolut F1 Team in Berlin on January 20.
