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Audi's F1 Gamble Starts Friday at Barcelona—First Real Test of the 2026 Project
Photo: The Race
by Scott Mitchell-Malm· via The Race · Jan 8, 2026

Audi's F1 Gamble Starts Friday at Barcelona—First Real Test of the 2026 Project

"Audi's timing couldn't be tighter—they're spinning up a full F1 program while the rest of the grid has three seasons of turbo-hybrid maturity. First laps matter."

— Revvly Take

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.

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Scott Mitchell-Malm

The Race · Jan 8

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