Audi F1 reported a successful engine start.

      The factory Audi F1 team, created on the basis of Sauber, reported a successful first engine start, already installed on the 2026 chassis, calling it "a turning point."

      However, the event itself took place in Hinwil, Switzerland, where the team's base is located, back on December 19, but it was only reported now, and it was described in the following terms: "this symbolizes the transition of the project from the design stage to dynamic reality."

      Years of work by many hundreds of engineers and designers are behind it, who work in the engine-building division in Neuburg, at the team's base in Hinwil, and at the new Audi Sport Technical Centre in Bicester (United Kingdom).

      Audi regard this as an important achievement, and representatives of the company's and team's senior management commented on it.

      Gernot Döllner, Chief Executive Officer of Audi AG and Chairman of the Board of Audi Motorsport: "Audi's debut in Formula 1 is a crucial part of the ongoing renewal of our brand. This milestone clearly demonstrates our ambitious goals, expressed by the slogan Vorsprung durch Technik (which can be roughly translated as 'Advantage through Technology').

      It is the result of uninterrupted teamwork and an untiring pursuit of excellence that will serve as an example for our entire organisation. This project is a catalyst for change, a source of particular pride, and a testament to our identity and enthusiasm.

      With the engine start, the tireless efforts of everyone working in Hinwil, Neuburg and Bicester take the team to a new level, marking the next, very exciting chapter in Audi's motorsport history."

      Mattia Binotto, Head of the Audi F1 project: "An engine start is always a special moment, but this time it is also a new beginning. It is a tangible result of our shared ambitions and the devoted work of the teams in Neuburg and Hinwil.

      For the first time we see how everything comes together, and this gives the whole project an incredible boost of energy. We have built a solid foundation for this journey, which promises to be long, and our relentless drive to become better will be decisive along the way."

      Jonathan Wheatley, Head of the Audi F1 Team: "A successful engine start is a crucial milestone that allows us to assess the quality of our work and the collaboration across all divisions of the team. It energizes the entire team and sets a clear reference point as we prepare for the next stages of the project, including the moment when we first put our car on track..."

      The team's intensive preparation for its debut season continues; the next important moment will be a presentation to be held in Berlin on January 20 — at which the team promises to reveal the full livery of the new car. This will precede the start of the first tests in Barcelona, scheduled for the end of January.