Audi goes full minimalism for its first-ever Formula 1 livery

""By entering the pinnacle of motorsport, Audi is making a clear, ambitious statement. It is the next chapter in the company's renewal. Formula 1 will be a catalyst for the change towards a leaner, faster, and more innovative Audi," said Gernot Döllner, Audi's CEO. "We are not entering Formula 1 just to be there. We want to win. At the same time, we know that you don't become a top team in Formula 1 overnight. It takes time, perseverance, and tireless questioning of the status quo. By 2030, we want to fight for the World Championship title," Döllner said."

"I'll admit, when I first saw the images Audi sent ahead of time, I was a little underwhelmed, but in person, as you approach it from different angles, it makes a lot more sense. The design is more than a little minimalist, juxtaposing straight-edged geometric blocks of color with the aerodynamically curved bodywork they adorn. The titanium references Audi's latest concept car, and the red-which is almost fluorescent in person-is an all-new shade called Audi Red."

"After a long and glorious history in sportscar racing and rallying before that, Audi's motorsports activities virtually evaporated in the wake of dieselgate and then a brief Formula E program. Then in early 2022, Volkswagen Group revealed that after decades of "will they, won't they" speculation, not one but two of its brands-Audi and Porsche-would be entering F1 in 2026. (The Porsche deal with Red Bull would later fall apart.)"

Audi unveiled a show version of the Audi R26 livery aligned with the 2026 aerodynamic regulations, with the racing livery and sponsor logos set to appear next year. CEO Gernot Döllner framed the F1 entry as a strategic push to make Audi leaner, faster and more innovative and set a goal to fight for the World Championship by 2030. The R26 design pairs minimalist, geometric color blocks with curved aerodynamic bodywork, titanium references and a new, high-visibility Audi Red highlighting air intakes. Audi's motorsport program declined after dieselgate, later returning with a planned 2026 F1 entry.

Read at Ars Technica