Audi F1’s Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley praised the team’s progress during 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain, highlighting the strides they’ve made since the shakedown in Barcelona and with how the team has functioned so far. After taking over operations from Sauber, the iconic four rings will compete in Formula 1 for the first time this season, developing and running their own power unit as part of the project.
Audi joins as one of two new brands to the 2026 F1 grid, alongside Cadillac. Last year, the team finished 9th in the Constructors’ Championship with 70 points. They also enjoyed several standout moments, most notably Nico Hülkenberg’s first career podium at Silverstone. The team retains both Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto for this year, as the 2026 season marks a new chapter for both the team and its drivers.
Operations at Audi are starting to shape up
Speaking to F1TV on the final day of testing, Wheatley admitted that integrating Audi’s chassis and powertrains departments over a short winter break has been a significant challenge. However, since the end of the Barcelona shakedown, he strongly believes that operations have started looking more like a proper Formula 1 team.
“Well you know, I’m encouraged that you’ve noticed that from the outside, because certainly internally, we brought together these two groups of very very talented people, chassis and powertrain, trying to knit them into a team in what’s been a very short winter.
“We haven’t even had the opportunity to get everyone together and have a beer, let alone a team building event or something. So yeah, it felt like it was a bit of the very early stages at Barcelona, towards the end of this week now it’s starting to really look like how a Formula One team should operate inside the garage at least.”
Wheatley added: “And I think also the communication in the team, we’ve had a few high pressure situations, we’ve been working on it, we identified some target areas last year. And so far, it seems to be on the route for where we want to be.”
Bahrain testing serves as first operational and logistical test for Audi
Wheatley stressed that pre-season testing goes far beyond a team’s car, saying: “Well I think you know, people focus a lot on the car when it comes to testing, but we’re testing everything when you come here you know.
“Your air freight systems, your logistics, you’re getting people backwards and forwards, the operation in the garage, the communication to the driver, from the driver, in between the team, you know your run plans, your programmes, you have so many engineers at testing, like so many more people that you have at races, and every single person needs to have their say and you need to build that into a picture in a run plan the next day, it’s a big challenge and you know it shouldn’t be underestimated.”
He said that the team’s improved cohesion reflects structural changes they’d made over the winter. Wheatley believes those adjustments have already started to pay off, with the organisation functioning more effectively as a unit.
“So when I talk about the fact that we look more cohesive, I take a lot out of that, you know our structure, we changed the structure a little bit over the winter, certainly in engineering and operationally, and it looks like it’s bearing fruit.”
A significant step forward since Barcelona shakedown
On Day 2, Hülkenberg spoke candidly about how Audi’s Bahrain test unfolded, expressing satisfaction that the car felt much better than it did in Barcelona. Wheatley continued to express pride in the team’s early milestones. From passing their crash test to being the first team to hit the track, he believes that achieving these goals demonstrate their ambitions as a team.
While this marks their first season in Formula 1, Audi and Wheatley remains realistic and grounded about their starting point.
“I think I’m almost proud of where we are, you know we passed our crash test, we were on the first team to be on track, we ran in Barcelona with a brand new powertrain, we’re here with a new aerodynamic package.
“I mean it shows the ambition of the team, I think also shows the boldness and creativity because nobody else has come up with this solution, you know, and I think it’s a good indicator that we’re serious, but we’re, you know, as I say, we’re humble from where we’re starting.”
All 11 teams will return to Bahrain for another three-day test from February 18th to 20th this week. With the season opener in Melbourne fast approaching, the upcoming days will prove crucial for gathering vital data.
