In Melbourne, Audi will begin "a long journey"

It was in the Spa-Francorchamps paddock, in August 2022, that Audi officially announced its arrival in Formula 1taking advantage of the new technical regulations put in place for the 2026 season. Three and a half years later, the German team is therefore present in Melbourne, with its own engine, and a team that has been built on the foundations of Sauber, a name present in Formula 1 since 1993.

With chassis regulations having evolved significantly compared to the 2025 season, Audi is essentially starting from scratch to launch its Formula 1 adventure. The team principal, Jonathan Wheatley, looked back on the last few years, which have allowed the German brand to build its Formula 1 team, a result that had been predicted to be a pipe dream for many decades.

« Melbourne marks the culmination of a huge collective effort. We launched a new team, built the first Audi F1 car with our own powertrain, and then completed one of the most comprehensive pre-season programs in recent years. We also finished the first phase of the ambitious refurbishment we had planned at HinwilAfter a busy winter, we now arrive at our first Grand Prix as the Audi Revolut F1 team.

While being on the starting grid in Melbourne is an achievement in itself, the former team manager of Red Bull F1 knows that this is really just the starting point of an adventure that could prove to be long, and that the Ingolstadt-based brand hopes will be crowned with success, sooner or later.

“We are very proud of what we have achieved so far, but we are also aware of the challenge ahead. We have a lot of work to do and a deep respect for our competitors, but we are making solid progress. This is the beginning of a long journey, and our goal is to strengthen our team's capabilities and have a smooth race weekend.”

For Nico HulkenbergFor the captain of this new project, arriving in Australia brings renewed excitement before the start of this new season: “It’s been a long and difficult road, but we’re finally here: you can feel the excitement within the team, but also in the factories in Hinwil and Neubourg. The work done behind the scenes has been enormous, and now it’s time to put it into action. Albert Park is a unique circuit, more like a street circuit, and I’m not sure it will allow the teams to reach their full potential. At the same time, it’s a place that can lead to chaotic racing. It’s the perfect place to open the season, and I’m really looking forward to getting back to racing.”

His teammate Gabriel Bortoleto, champion of F2 In 2024, he can now rely a little more on his knowledge of the Formula 1 world, after having contested his first season in 2025. Following a rigorous testing program, the Brazilian is delighted to experience the thrill of a race weekend again.

“The pre-season was important for us to familiarize ourselves with our new car and fully understand its behavior under the new regulations: we covered a good number of kilometers and I feel we used that time well to tick all the boxes on our program. But now the real work begins. I live for racing and I'm really looking forward to experiencing the feeling of a race weekend again. This is the first race of a new long season, my second in Formula 1 already, and it will be interesting to get back to all the circuits with a better understanding of them.”

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