Audi will make its debut in Formula 1 in 2026, marking its first foray into the sport. The car manufacturer recently announced a major milestone in its F1 program, revealing that its engine has successfully completed race distances during dynamometer tests. As it prepares to take over Sauber and become a factory team, Audi has remained relatively discreet about its progress. However, in a recent interview, Audi Formula Racing CEO Adam Baker and Chief Technical Director Stefan Dreyer provided some information about the brand’s ambitions. They revealed that Audi’s power unit, which includes a combustion engine, electric motor, battery, and control electronics, is dynamically functioning on the test bench after just two years of development. The team has also conducted simulation tests on various circuits, including the challenging new track in Las Vegas, to fine-tune the engine and energy recovery system components. These achievements have given the team a sense of accomplishment and confidence for the future.
Dreyer stated that Audi is determined to further enhance its emerging package while ensuring it meets the established competitive goals.
“After successfully testing the power unit over long distances, we will soon do the same with the entire transmission system, which includes the combination of power unit and transmission.
“At the same time, we are fully committed to developing performance to achieve the goals we have set.”
Meanwhile, Audi has also made a significant investment in creating the necessary facilities in Neuburg to compete in the series.
“We have implemented an ambitious modernization and expansion of our testing facility,” explained Dreyer.
“Currently, we have 22 state-of-the-art testing stations on-site. Our new development tools are cutting-edge and have facilitated a fast learning process.”
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