Audi Enters Formula 1 In 2026 With Revolut Partnership And Mission 2030 Strategy

Audi Motorsport has confirmed its entry into Formula 1 for the 2026 season under the banner of Audi Revolut F1 Team, marking the company's return to the sport at the highest level. The German manufacturer will compete as a works team with a power unit developed in Neuburg, Germany, and chassis operations based in Hinwil, Switzerland, alongside a technology centre in Bicester, UK. 

The team will field two drivers for the 2026 campaign. Nico Hulkenberg, a German driver with over 250 Grand Prix starts, serves as the lead driver with car number 27. Gabriel Bortoleto, the 2024 FIA Formula 2 champion and 2024 Rookie of the Year, joins him with car number 5. Hulkenberg achieved his maiden Formula 1 podium in 2025, whilst Bortoleto completed his first season in the sport with Sauber, the team that will transition to become Audi Revolut F1 Team. 

Audi has set a strategic objective termed "Mission 2030" that aims for the team to win championships by the end of the decade. The plan outlines three phases: the team will begin as a Challenger, establishing processes and competing for points; evolve into a Competitor, consistently challenging for podium positions; and finally become a Champion in unified winning formation.

The entry into Formula 1 occurs during a regulation change in 2026 that introduces increased electric power, enhanced efficiency in hybrid power units, and the requirement for 100 per cent sustainable fuels. Audi views this shift as aligned with the company's vision for the future of mobility. The team operates as a works operation, with the power unit and chassis engineered in complete synergy rather than assembled as separate components.

Jonathan Wheatley leads the team as Team Principal and Management Board spokesperson, bringing championship-winning experience from his role at Red Bull Racing. Mattia Binotto, former Ferrari team principal, heads the Audi F1 Project and works alongside Wheatley in a co-leadership structure. James Key serves as Technical Director, overseeing technical development from Hinwil.

The partnership structure includes fintech company Revolut as title partner, with bp and Castrol as principal partners for fuel and lubricants. Additional partners include adidas for official apparel, Visit Qatar, and a range of technology and lifestyle brands such as Extreme Networks, Gillette, Hyatt, and Paulaner.

Audi will also participate in the F1 Academy, the all-female racing series, with a driver competing in team colours. The merchandise partnership with adidas will launch globally on 19 February 2026 through multiple channels including a dedicated e-commerce platform, adidas official stores, and retailers worldwide.