Audi to shake down their 2026 F1 car in Barcelona on January 9

Audi will be conducting a filming day in Barcelona with both drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, getting their first taste of the R26, the car they will be driving next season.

Despite the running being restricted to 200 km according to the regulations, this exercise will mark a major milestone for Audi, who, for the first time, will be able to test how their first-ever F1 power unit behaves.

It will also give them a chance to test the moveable front and rear aero parts, a feature introduced for the first time in F1 in 2026 and that replaces DRS, which was the previous gimmick used to "promote overtaking".

Also, according to the regulations, Audi will have to use Pirelli demonstration tyres on the R26, which ensures they do not gain any advantage with regard to tyre knowledge.

Audi have announced that their R26 will be officially unveiled on January 20th in a launch event which will be held in Berlin.

Audi is one of 11 teams that will be taking part in the 2026 Formula 1 Championship after taking over the Sauber F1 Team.

Cadillac, the 11th team, are building their team from scratch, and while they do not need to worry about building a power unit for now, they need to make sure they build a decent car, which will be Ferrari-powered until their own power unit gets introduced in 2029.

Audi, on the other hand, can lean on Sauber's F1 experience in terms of car building.

The teams will take part in a closed test in Barcelona between January 26 and 30. That will be followed by two three-day tests in Bahrain. The first between February 11 and 13. The second is between February 18 and 20.