Audi marked its entry into Formula 1 with a points finish at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, as Gabriel Bortoleto secured ninth place. Despite technical challenges that sidelined teammate Nico Hulkenberg, the team expressed confidence in overcoming early powertrain issues. Team principal Jonathan Wheatley described the result as a historic moment.
Audi's first race in Formula 1 came at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, where the German manufacturer, having taken over the former Sauber team, fielded its in-house designed R26 car powered by a new hybrid V6 engine developed at its Neuburg facility.
Gabriel Bortoleto started from 10th on the grid and navigated a two-stop strategy to cross the line in ninth, earning the team's inaugural points. However, the weekend highlighted initial shortcomings in the powertrain, particularly at the power-sensitive Albert Park Circuit. Bortoleto encountered mechanical issues that forced him into the garage during Q3 qualifying, while Hulkenberg could not start the race after his car suffered a loss of telemetry on the way to the grid.
These problems followed teething troubles during a Barcelona shakedown, which the team largely resolved ahead of testing in Bahrain. Bortoleto remains optimistic about the engine's potential, stating, “I have no doubt... I have full confidence that we're gonna be one of the top engine manufacturers in the future.” He acknowledged the challenges, noting, “There are teams doing this for 15 years, and we are in the first year of building an engine, so it's not easy.”
Team principal Jonathan Wheatley, formerly of Red Bull, hailed the achievement as a “historic moment” and praised Bortoleto's work ethic, mentioning his intensive simulator sessions in January. Wheatley emphasized the early stage of the 2026 regulations, saying, “We're at the very early stages of this set of technical regulations... As the cars get more sophisticated, the engines become more efficient and the racing becomes closer.”
The new rules include the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system, allowing engine upgrades for manufacturers lagging behind, assessed every six races. Audi, as the sole user of its power unit, lacks customer data but plans to learn from competitors. The sixth round is set for Miami on May 3, though potential calendar changes due to Middle East conflicts could affect upgrade timelines.
