Audi's new works F1 program got its first track time at Barcelona with the R26, the car that'll carry the marque's new hybrid power unit into 2026. Spy footage is already circulating, offering the first real glimpse at how Audi's interpreting the incoming regulations. The shakedown matters less for what we saw than what it signals: the German manufacturer is locked in.

Audi's new F1 powerplant got its first track time at Barcelona in the R26 test mule. The shakedown hits before the manufacturer fully commits to the grid in 2026, when the sport's hybrid engine regs shift again. Early data matters here—this is where hidden problems surface or confidence builds.

Audi shakes down its new F1 chassis at Barcelona this week, marking the German manufacturer's formal entry into the sport after years of acquisition and reorganization. The shakedown is the first time the Sauber-based platform will turn a wheel under Audi power—a crucial moment to validate months of bench work before pre-season testing begins in earnest. How the PU behaves under real track load will tell you everything about whether this $500M commitment actually works.