The Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto participated this Tuesday, in Berlim, in the official launch of the R26, the car that marks the definitive entry of Audi as a factory team in the Fórmula 1. Durante the event held in the German capital, the 21-year-old competitor demonstrated enthusiasm with the new equipment and reinforced the importance of the development schedule established by the team for the coming years. The presentation brought together the top management of the German automaker and marks the complete transition from the structure of the old Sauber to the command of the manufacturer of the four rings.
The new machine was described by the Brazilian as an exceptional project that symbolizes not only a technological advance, but the beginning of a new era for national motorsport in the top category. Bortoleto emphasized that the vehicle belongs to the collective effort of everyone involved in the project and that expectations for the first real contact with the track are high. The schedule foresees that practical activities with the R26 model will begin next week, serving as a basis for the necessary calibrations before the official opening of the championship.
- Audi fully assumes the operation that belonged to Sauber for the 2026 season.
- Gabriel Bortoleto will be teammates with experienced German driver Nico Hulkenberg.
- The R26 model was designed under the new technical regulations that come into force this year.
- The pre-season will feature testing sessions at Europa and also at Oriente Médio.
Highlights of the R26 launch ⬇️❤️#audif1 pic.twitter.com/Zwk5YVnaD6
—Audi F1 Racing Team (@audi_f1stars)January 20, 2026
Technical planning and initial testing in Barcelona
Preparation for the debut season of the Audi will have its starting point at the Circuito of Gabriel Bortoleto highlighted that working on the simulator during the vacation period was an essential asset in understanding the drastic changes imposed by the category’s new technical regulations. Esta initial phase on Spanish soil will be essential for the technical team to collect aerodynamic and engine performance data in real asphalt conditions.
The driver from São Paulo reiterated that the immediate focus is on developing the car consistently, preventing anxiety about immediate results from harming the evolution process. Segundo Bortoleto, patience will be a necessary virtue for the team to achieve its clear objectives throughout the championship rounds. After testing at Após, the category will move on to Bahrein, where two more rounds of intense activities will take place to fine-tune reliability and performance.
Factory team structure and long-term goals
The transition to a factory team significantly changes the work dynamics of Gabriel Bortoleto, who now has direct support from Audi engineering. Embora external pressure may increase due to the greatness of the German brand, the pilot minimizes such effects and focuses on continuing the contract he already had with the organization. Contractual stability allows Brazilians to see a journey of constant progress, without the need to prove their worth in each free training session.
The performance of Bortoleto in 2025, when he achieved an impressive sixth place in the Grande Prêmio of Hungria, served as a calling card to consolidate his position on the grid. Agora, alongside Nico Hulkenberg, forms a duo that mixes promising youth with the technical experience necessary for a debuting team. The main objective of Audi in this first phase is to establish a solid foundation that will allow it to compete in intermediate positions and, eventually, challenge the top teams in the near future.
Official schedule and season opening at Austrália
The 2026 Fórmula 1 calendar is set with crucial preparation steps leading up to the inaugural race at Melbourne. Além of the week in Barcelona, sessions at Essas stages are vital to ensure that the car reaches Austrália with the necessary resistance to complete the total distance of the race without serious mechanical failures.
The official debut of the season will take place on March 8th, at the traditional Albert Park circuit, where Bortoleto will make his first race as an official factory driver. The expectation is that Audi will use the first steps to understand the car’s behavior on different types of tracks and grip conditions. The Brazilian driver keeps his speech down to earth, reinforcing that daily effort and dedication will be the pillars for the partnership with the German automaker to yield the fruits expected by the Brazilian fans.
Technological innovations in the R26 model of the Audi
The new Audi car incorporates refined aerodynamic solutions that seek to optimize airflow in accordance with the requirements of the Federação Internacional and Automobilismo. Gabriel Bortoleto mentioned that the car has driving characteristics that left him very satisfied during the first static evaluations and digital simulations. The integration between the hybrid engine developed in Neuburg and the chassis produced in Hinwil is one of the points of greatest attention to engineers in this launch phase.
The technical team worked extensively on weight reduction and power unit efficiency, aiming to ensure that the R26 is competitive from the first laps. Bortoleto believes that the technological investment by
Adaptation of the Brazilian pilot to the German environment
Working in a German structure requires a high level of discipline and precision, characteristics that Gabriel Bortoleto has sought to improve since joining the brand’s program. The pilot highlighted that communication with engineers at Berlim and at development headquarters has been fluid and productive, facilitating the exchange of essential feedback. Esta cultural and professional integration is seen as an important step for Brazilians to feel fully at home within the Audi ecosystem.
The support of the Brazilian fans is also a factor cited by the driver as extra fuel to face the challenges of representing a global automotive powerhouse. Bortoleto knows that he carries the flag of Brasil at a time of renewal of the country’s presence on the Fórmula 1 grid and uses this as positive motivation. The team environment is one of moderate optimism, with all members aware that the journey in the category requires resilience and absolute focus on every technical detail.
Expectations for Grande Prêmio from Austrália
The countdown to March 8th has begun for everyone at the Audi factory, with double shifts to ensure replacement components are ready for the trip to Melbourne. Gabriel Bortoleto plans to arrive at Austrália with as much mileage as possible accumulated from pre-season testing to minimize learning time during the race weekend. The Albert Park circuit, as it is a street circuit and has semi-permanent characteristics, tends to punish mistakes, which requires total concentration from the first free practice session.
For Bortoleto, the opening of the championship will be the moment to validate all the work carried out behind the scenes over the last few months of intense development. Ele reiterates that Audi’s long-term plan is what brings him the most security, as there is a mutual understanding that success at Fórmula 1 is built gradually. The focus in Berlim now shifts entirely to the logistics of transporting the cars and equipment to the European and Asian test tracks.
Gabriel The determination of the young Brazilian, combined with the cutting-edge technology of the Audi, creates a promising scenario for the future of national motorsport. The world of motorsport now turns its eyes to Barcelona, where the new-age engines of the Fórmula 1 will finally be heard in public for the first time.
