Mattia Binotto expressed that he has “never encountered such an extensive agenda” of tasks in anticipation of the 2026 Formula 1 season, as he gets Audi ready for its inaugural participation in the racing series.
The German automaker is set to make its highly awaited F1 entry this year, having finalized a complete acquisition of the long-standing Sauber team prior to the implementation of new rules within the championship.
This represents perhaps the most significant regulatory overhaul in the championship’s existence, involving modifications to both the chassis, which will be 32kg lighter and generate considerably less downforce, and the power unit, which will depend more heavily on electrical power.
Consequently, Formula 1 incorporated additional pre-season testing periods, commencing with an initial run in Barcelona (January 26-30), followed by two separate three-day tests in Bahrain (February 11-13 and February 18-20), leading up to the season’s inaugural race in Melbourne from March 6-8.
While this might appear to be an extensive amount of testing, it is actually not sufficient considering the comprehensive changes introduced, particularly when factoring in the immense preparation required for the upcoming season where the competitive hierarchy remains uncertain.
“There’s a tremendous amount to do,” remarked Audi’s F1 leader Binotto to F1 TV after the conclusion of the Barcelona shakedown. “It demands considerable effort from the whole squad, from the drivers, and from the engineers at the base – addressing all encountered issues, whether design-related, operational, or otherwise.”
Mattia Binotto, Audi
Photo by: Audi
“Therefore, for us, every single aspect is being scrutinized: all particulars must be addressed and resolved. We possess an exceptionally lengthy list, truly, an extremely long list, unlike anything I’ve encountered before.
“However, once more, I believe it’s wonderful because the group is genuinely dedicated, eager to progress and arrive in Bahrain in an enhanced condition.”
Despite teams being present in Barcelona for the entire week, testing was restricted to just three days, with Audi choosing Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – accumulating a total of 243 laps during that period.
The initial stages were not without hitches, though, as Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg faced limited track time during the first two days because of technical malfunctions – reportedly connected to the power unit – on the R26 vehicle.
Nevertheless, Friday brought significant enhancements: the team successfully finished 148 laps, providing a commendable overall mileage for the week and enabling them to conclude the shakedown with an optimistic outlook.
“It’s excellent; we are all exceedingly pleased,” commented Binotto, who served as Ferrari’s team principal between 2019 and 2022. “This is an incredible undertaking, which we all have faith in, and to which we are all dedicated – yet we also recognize that much development and expansion are still required.
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team
Photo by: Audi
“The three days spent on track proved to be exceptionally crucial. I believe we are progressing quite effectively given our current stage. While reliability consistently presents a significant challenge, we encountered a few minor, non-critical issues, and once again, I see many encouraging signs.”
Hulkenberg, a seasoned competitor with 250 Grand Prix participations, reiterated these feelings, describing Friday as “our strongest day of the week here,” which demonstrated the team’s capacity to recover from setbacks.
“Over 140 laps completed,” the German driver further informed F1 TV. “This provided valuable mileage for the vehicle and all its constituent parts, and from the power unit perspective, achieving such mileage is essential for us.
“We acquired numerous further insights there that we will naturally examine. Thus, there is a wealth of data to process and consider before we inevitably reconvene and compete once more in Bahrain.
“Overall, it was an encouraging week. We are, of course, merely at the outset – gathering a multitude of discoveries and knowledge continually as we proceed, but it has been beneficial.”
