Mattia Binotto, Audi's F1 chief, described an unprecedented workload as the team prepares for its 2026 entry following a Barcelona shakedown marred by initial technical issues. Despite early power unit problems limiting drivers Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg, the squad ended the week positively with significant mileage on Friday. Binotto emphasized the team's commitment to addressing every detail before further tests in Bahrain.
Audi is gearing up for its Formula 1 debut in 2026 after taking over the Sauber team, coinciding with the sport's most significant regulatory overhaul. The new rules introduce a chassis that is 32kg lighter with reduced downforce and a power unit more dependent on electrical energy, reshaping the competitive landscape.
Pre-season preparations have intensified, with F1 scheduling a Barcelona shakedown from January 26-30, followed by two three-day tests in Bahrain on February 11-13 and 18-20, before the season opener in Melbourne on March 6-8. This expanded testing reflects the scale of the changes, yet Binotto told F1 TV that the workload remains immense.
"It's a lot of work for the entire team, it's a lot of work for the drivers, for the engineers back at home—fixing all the problems, design, operationals, whatever we have seen," Binotto said. "We've got a very long list, very, very long list, I've never seen such a long list."
The Barcelona shakedown, limited to three testing days (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), saw Audi complete 243 laps overall. Early sessions were hampered by technical issues, believed to be power unit-related on the R26 car, restricting running for Bortoleto and Hulkenberg. However, Friday brought a turnaround, with 148 laps logged and the team reporting vast improvements.
"It's great, we are all very, very happy," Binotto added, reflecting on his prior role as Ferrari principal from 2019 to 2022. "Those three days of running have been very, very important... The reliability is always very critical, but we had several problems, small ones, not dramatic, and I think here again there is a lot of positives."
Hulkenberg, with 250 grand prix starts, echoed the optimism: "More than 140 laps... All in all, positive week. We're obviously just at the beginning—many, many findings and learnings day by day as we go, but it's been good."
The team now focuses on analyzing data to refine the car ahead of Bahrain, underscoring the challenges and excitement of Audi's F1 journey.