The first on-track glimpse of a 2026 Formula 1 car has surfaced online, after footage of Audi’s private shakedown at Barcelona appeared on YouTube.
Audi’s new challenger, known as the R26, completed a limited number of laps at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The German manufacturer is the first team confirmed to have run a 2026-spec car ahead of a closed test scheduled for late January. Drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto were due to share driving duties during a filming day aimed at testing Audi’s first in-house F1 power unit, as the former Sauber team transitions to its new identity.
Earlier images circulating on social media were dismissed as low-quality or AI-generated. However, video published by the YouTube channel F1 A TODO GAS clearly shows the R26 on track, albeit filmed from a distance near Turn 13.
New car specs
The footage highlights several changes linked to the 2026 regulations. The cars are 100mm narrower, a difference that is immediately noticeable. Audi’s machine appears to feature a slightly raised nose and an in-washing front wing, reflecting the FIA’s focus on controlling aerodynamic wake. The front wing endplates now include a footplate and a small flick-up designed to manage airflow around the front tyres.
One of the most striking elements is the return to a push-rod front suspension. Sauber had previously adopted a pull-rod layout in 2024, following trends set by McLaren and Red Bull. The new configuration suggests teams are rethinking suspension choices as softer spring rates become viable under floors that are less sensitive to small ride-height changes.
Details at the rear are harder to confirm due to the grainy footage, but the car also appears to use a push-rod rear suspension. While pull-rod layouts were once favoured for lowering the centre of gravity, push-rod designs have grown more common during the current regulation cycle.
The sidepods also stand out. Whereas most teams converged on Red Bull’s downwash philosophy in recent years, Audi’s design seems to use an in-washing approach to direct airflow toward the rear bodywork and improve efficiency around the Coke bottle section.
The engine sound closely resembles the current generation of power units, though it appears slightly more aggressive under acceleration. The rear wing features a double support mounted underneath, replacing the single swan-neck design used previously.
Kursiv also reports that the car in which Michael Schumacher secured his first Formula 1 victory, the 1992 Benetton B192, has been listed for auction.
