Audi Revolut F1 Team successfully starts engine for 2026 season

The Audi Revolut F1 Team has achieved a significant milestone in its preparation for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season. The team successfully completed the inaugural fire-up of its power unit while installed in the chassis for the 2026 car. The event, held at the team's Hinwil facility on December 19, 2025, signifies the project's transition from design to a tangible, operational reality.

This successful engine start is a fundamental checkpoint in any Formula 1 program, validating years of development and confirming the successful integration of core components. For Audi's F1 project, it represents the culmination of intense, cross-functional collaboration between the powertrain division in Neuburg, Germany, the chassis team in Hinwil, Switzerland, and the new Technical Centre in Bicester, UK.

Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG, stated that Audi's entry into Formula 1 is a key part of the brand's ongoing renewal. Mattia Binotto, Head of the Audi F1 Project, described the fire-up as a special moment and a new beginning that provides significant energy to the entire project.

With this key objective met, the Audi Revolut F1 Team continues its intensive preparations for its debut season. The next major milestone will be the team's global launch event in Berlin on January 20, 2026, where the car's full livery and identity will be officially presented, followed by the first collective test session in Barcelona at the end of the month.