Audi making good progress on 2026 F1 power unit

Audi to enter F1 in 2026 with Sauber

The FIA Formula One Championship, as we know it, is set to enter a new era in 2026. Apart from new car regulations, and a driver market shake-up, the power unit changes have attracted more manufacturers to enter the sport.

One of those set to enter F1 in 2026 is Audi. The German manufacturer is officially partnering with long-time Swiss F1 customer team Sauber Motorsport and will operate on the same level as a works team like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull.

With one-and-a-half season left before Audi makes its debut, the brand has shared that it is making great progress on its 2026 F1 power unit.

Audi Formula Racing CEO Adam Baker and Chief Technological Officer Stefan Dreyer said that the new Audi Power Unit has already covered a significant mileage simulating race distances on the test bench.

As per the 2026 regulations, the new power unit will feature a more powerful battery component that generates three times the electrical power produced by the current hybrid V6 formula. Even though the power from the ICE is set to drop from between 680 to 760 PS to around 540 PS, the energy deployment from the hybrid component rises from 160 PS to 475 PS.

This opens up more available power from a sustainable source, as F1 power units are also set to run using sustainable fuels.

According to Audi, their power unit has already been simulated to drive on tracks such as Red Bull Ring, Singapore, and Las Vegas for fine-tuning of the ICE and the ERS or the Energy Recovery System components.

Audi is testing and building its power unit at their Neuburg facility while the F1 chassis will still be made at Sauber’s Hinwil headquarters. As for their drivers, Nico Hulkenberg has already signed up as one of Audi’s drivers while the second seat remains vacant.

That being said, the 2026 F1 season can’t come soon enough for fans as everyone basically starts from zero. So who are you placing your bet on? Let us know in the comments.