After the engine noise made by F1’s first V6 hybrid power units came under fire, key members of the Audi team have hailed the sound made by the new motors

German manufacturer Audi, which will make its Formula One debut this season after acquiring the Sauber team, unveiled its first-ever single-seater on Tuesday and declared its ambition to "win championships by 2030".

Audi has taken a major step from long range promise to public reality, unveiling its first Formula 1 car presentation on YouTube as the brand prepares for its 2026 works debut. The launch was less about a deep technical reveal and more about staking a clear identity,

The R26 represents VW AG's first-ever full works operation in F1—and the first step in a plan to win a championship by 2030.

Following an overhaul for 2025, for 2026, Audi is applying a few finishing touches to its Q5 family in tech and the interior.

As I strolled through the wintry nighttime streets, curiously navigating the Doric columns of the Brandenburg Gate and taking in the ominous scene of Checkpoint Charlie, where the nearby walls whisper espionage tales of yore if you listen closely enough,

This may be a new works team, but it's not an upstart. The expectation is to win races—and championships.