‘Not here to mess around’: Audi unveil their first-ever F1 livery and target a title by 2030
- Henry Eccles
- Jan 20
- 4 min read
Audi unveiled the final livery of their R26 challenger and doubled down on their bold ambition to win a world title by 2030 at their season launch event in Berlin on Tuesday.
The German manufacturing giant takes over from the privately owned Sauber and embark upon their first-ever F1 season in 2026, having won virtually all there is to win in motorsport elsewhere – including 13 victories at Le Mans and four World Rally Championships.
The R26 had already been introduced as a ‘concept’ car at an event in Munich in November, but Tuesday evening’s season launch revealed the final product, with branding from title sponsor Revolut and other partners such as Adidas and Castrol on top of a titanium, red and black livery.
Audi enter the sport as it moves into a heavy regulation change, with smaller, lighter cars, a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, and new sustainable fuels set to be introduced – the latter of which is said to be a key factor as to why the German team have joined the grid.
Challenging for titles by 2030?
Forget challenging, Audi plan on winning a world championship in just five years’ time – the team used the season launch event to lay down its ‘Mission 2030’, a highly ambitious target considering Sauber finished just P9 in last season’s Constructors’ standings.
Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley, Red Bull’s former Sporting Director who already has 14 world titles to his belt, spoke on that 2030 target.
“I think we're not here to mess around. We have a journey, it's an ambitious journey and we're humble, we know where we're starting from but we know where we want to go and we want to get this team ready.
"We want Audi Formula 1 team to be the most successful Formula 1 team in history, but we have to start where we are and there's a journey. There are measurable milestones on that journey and we're excited to start it and we're starting it today.”
Mattia Binotto, Head of the Audi F1 project since 2024 and formerly the Team Principal at Ferrari, oversees development at Audi’s powertrain division in Neuberg, the chassis team in Hinwil, and their new technical center in Bicester, and explained why Audi are well-placed to deliver world titles in just five years.
“The strategic decision to enter Formula 1 as a full works team is our single greatest asset,” he said.
“We have spent the last few years meticulously building not just a power unit in Neuburg but laying the foundations for a technical organisation that binds our chassis development in Hinwil and Bicester.
“This seamless integration gives us total control over our destiny, eliminating compromises and enabling a level of agility and innovation that is essential for success. This is what makes Audi Revolut F1 Team one vision, controlling every variable from the engine block to the front wing. This is the foundation upon which championships are built.”
‘Opportunity of a lifetime’
The words of Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto, who enters his second season in F1 after a respectable rookie campaign. Despite finishing P19 in the Drivers’ standings, the young Brazilian outqualified veteran teammate Nico Hülkenberg 12-11 across the year, and had impressive battles with Max Verstappen and manager Fernando Alonso on occasion.
Speaking on the R26 launch, Bortoleto said: “To race for the Four Rings, a brand that has such an iconic and victorious history in motorsport is, quite simply, a dream come true.
“You grow up hearing about the dominance of Audi at Le Mans and in rallying, and to now be chosen to carry that legacy into Formula 1 is an unbelievable honour.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I feel the weight of the responsibility, but more than that, I feel an incredible motivation to learn, to push, and to grow with this team.
“I am ready to give my absolute all to help write this great chapter for Audi Revolut F1 Team.”
Hülkenberg, who achieved his first-ever podium in F1 last year at Silverstone, has over 250 Grand Prix starts to his name, but despite the fact the 37-year-old is most certainly in the twilight of his career, he could not help but express his excitement to be part of Audi’s historic project.
“Having been in the Formula 1 paddock for many years, you learn to distinguish between ambition and capability,” he said.
“What I feel here today is a profound seriousness and an incredible energy that sets this team apart. We are a true works team with a clear, long-term vision backed by immense resources and world-class expertise.
“For a driver, the proposition of being with Audi at the very start of its journey is exceptionally exciting. We have the chance to build something very special together and I am looking forward to get this car on the track in Melbourne.”
Before the first Grand Prix at Melbourne on March 8, Audi will take part in a private shakedown in Barcelona between January 26-30, before the proper pre-season gets underway with back-to-back official tests in Bahrain starting on February 11.