Audi F1 is preparing new developments for the races in Monza and Baku.

      Audi F1 will test a modified gearbox in Monza, which has been in development since the beginning of the season, and at the Baku stage, it will present a whole set of new aerodynamic elements.

      Except for four top teams, Audi was the only one to score points in all four of the last stages, although previously Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg had not managed to reach the top ten in seven consecutive races.

      All this indicates progress for the new factory team, although Alan McNish is not inclined to exaggerate it. As the racing director of Audi recently admitted, "We know there will still be races where we won't be able to score points. I hope we can, but the likelihood is low."

      It seems that in 2026, the German engine manufacturers do not plan to upgrade their power unit, however, there is a chance that in Monza the R26 car will be able to improve its pace thanks to the modified gearbox.

      As the Austrian publication Motorsport Magazin writes, work on it has been ongoing since the very beginning of the season, as after the winter tests, Audi engineers found that the gearbox ratios were heavily stretched. The first gear turned out to be too "short," while the eighth was too "long."

      The work on the improved version of the gearbox lasted 24 weeks, as on one hand, it is quite an expensive project, and on the other, it really takes time to implement. This is also because several components were ordered from an external supplier.

      It is precisely because any projects related to the gearbox are costly that McLaren decided not to change the gear ratios during the season, although in Woking they admit that the MCL40 car lacks top speed. The British team acquires power units from Mercedes, but it develops and manufactures the gearboxes on its own, including all their internal components.

      In Audi, however, they decided to upgrade the gearbox early in the year, and soon the results of this work will be presented. Although there are concerns that a longer first gear may affect acceleration dynamics, especially since Audi drivers do not start perfectly anyway, and therefore the team will need to improve the traction and control system in the future.

      Also, despite already starting preparations for 2027, at the 15th stage of the season, i.e., at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, important updates related to the aerodynamic package of the R26 will appear on Audi cars. Moreover, it is rumored that the appearance of the car will even change significantly.