Development of the 2026 Audi F1 car has already ceased, with the team now concentrating on the 2027 and 2028 models.

Development of the 2026 Audi F1 car has already ceased, with the team now concentrating on the 2027 and 2028 models.

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      The Audi Formula 1 Team has yet to complete any laps in pre-season testing and hasn't even shipped containers to the Australia Grand Prix, but it has already stopped work on its 2026 drivetrain.

      During a visit to the newly expanded Audi Sport facility in Neuburg, Germany, where the internal combustion and electric components for the new F1 power unit are produced, The Drive discovered that although the team is under pressure to prepare for its inaugural race, its 430 employees are mainly concentrating on plans for the team's second and third years in the series.

      “Development of the 2026 drivetrain has finished, and we are now shifting our focus to 2027 and 2028,” said Audi F1’s Chief Technology Officer Stefan Dreyer to The Drive. “In Formula 1, component development never truly ceases, but given the limited data available to us from the current Sauber and Ferrari setup and the 2026 regulation changes, we are already looking beyond our first year.”

      Dreyer clarified that, although Audi has acquired Sauber and most of its assets, the intellectual property of the drivetrain remains solely with Ferrari, and no data is shared with Sauber or Audi. He referred to this setup as a “Chinese wall,” indicating that all data collected by the team from previous seasons is kept separate from the new drivetrain group. Even if shared, it’s uncertain how valuable that data would be given the upcoming regulations.

      When asked how engineers could work on improvements without any actual test data from real track conditions, Dreyer acknowledged the difficult position they are in. He explained that they are depending on simulator testing and will clearly be working overtime as the cars begin to accumulate mileage in Spain at the end of January, followed by testing in Bahrain in mid-February.

      I inquired about what the Neuburg team would concentrate on now that the 2026 development is finished, and Dreyer simply stated, “manufacturing.” The team will need to prepare essential components in advance of the demanding season that starts in January with pre-season testing and concludes in December with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

      The Neuburg facility has been operational for a while but has recently undergone a significant and costly remodel and expansion to support the new F1 operations. Dreyer guided a select group of media through the complex; however, similar to most racing assembly facilities, photography or recording was strictly prohibited. What I can share is that after visiting Ferrari's Gestione Sportiva in Maranello (F1 HQ) and McLaren's Technology Center in Woking, I can affirm that Audi’s facilities are top-notch and have seen no expense spared.

      Dreyer did not provide a specific figure for the investment in Neuburg, joking that he “did not want to think about the number.” However, that evening, when I posed the same question to Audi AG’s finance chief, the response was “a three-digit-million amount.”

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Development of the 2026 Audi F1 car has already ceased, with the team now concentrating on the 2027 and 2028 models. Development of the 2026 Audi F1 car has already ceased, with the team now concentrating on the 2027 and 2028 models. Development of the 2026 Audi F1 car has already ceased, with the team now concentrating on the 2027 and 2028 models. Development of the 2026 Audi F1 car has already ceased, with the team now concentrating on the 2027 and 2028 models. Development of the 2026 Audi F1 car has already ceased, with the team now concentrating on the 2027 and 2028 models. Development of the 2026 Audi F1 car has already ceased, with the team now concentrating on the 2027 and 2028 models.

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Development of the 2026 Audi F1 car has already ceased, with the team now concentrating on the 2027 and 2028 models.

Audi's new F1 drivetrain has yet to complete a lap on a track, but more than 400 engineers are already diligently working to enhance it for upcoming seasons.