Audi has etched its name into Formula 1 history by becoming the inaugural constructor to put a 2026-specification machine through its paces on circuit.
The German manufacturer's R26 challenger completed its maiden shakedown at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Friday, stealing a march on all ten rival outfits.
Amateur footage captured from within the Spanish venue revealed the car circulating in an unpainted black finish, adorned only with the iconic Four Rings emblem on its rear wing.
This landmark moment arrives ahead of Audi's highly anticipated debut campaign in the pinnacle of motorsport, coinciding with sweeping technical regulation changes.
Footage has emerged of Audi's new F1 car at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Friday
| XBoth Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto took turns at the wheel during the session, with each driver understood to have covered approximately 100 kilometres.
Regulations governing promotional events restrict teams to a maximum of 200 kilometres, equating to roughly 42 laps around the Catalan circuit.
The R26 ran on Pirelli demonstration rubber rather than the compounds employed during official testing and race weekends.
Reports from Auto Motor und Sport indicate the German driver handled the opening stints.
Niko Hulkenberg was the man driving in the footage
|PA
Crucially, the initial outing proceeded without incident, providing welcome reassurance following extensive bench testing of the power unit prior to its track debut.
Audi's journey to the grid follows its complete acquisition of the Sauber operation in 2024, transforming the Swiss-based outfit into a works team under the leadership of Jonathan Wheatley.
The power unit that propelled the R26 around Barcelona was successfully fired up on 19 December, marking another crucial step in the manufacturer's preparations.
The 2026 campaign heralds a dramatic technical overhaul for the sport, with the ground effect machinery raced since 2022 being consigned to history.
Fresh regulations introduce active aerodynamic elements alongside engines placing substantially greater emphasis on electrical propulsion, presenting novel challenges for all competitors.
La prima monoposto 2026 e’ Audi che sta girando al Montmelo’. #F1 #AudiF1 #ShakeDown pic.twitter.com/5sNcSE2Bx9
— RobertoF1 (@robertofunoat) January 9, 2026
Audi will formally unveil the R26 at a launch event in Berlin on 20 January, offering the first official glimpse of the challenger that will carry its hopes into the new era.
The team returns to Barcelona for five days of private pre-season testing commencing on 26 January.
The German marque will not be alone in seeking early track time before official running begins, with Ferrari and Williams both reportedly planning to utilise filming days ahead of the testing programme.
Red Bull and Racing Bulls are scheduled to be the first constructors to present their 2026 contenders, followed shortly by Haas.