Audi’s Formula 1 Engine Makes Significant Progress, Covering Race Distances in Dyno Tests
In a major update on its Formula 1 venture, Audi has revealed that its new engine is already covering race distances in dyno tests, a significant milestone in its preparation for its works entry in 2026. The German manufacturer is set to replace the Sauber team on the grid, and its progress is right on schedule, according to Audi Formula Racing’s CEO Adam Baker and chief technical officer Stefan Dreyer.
In an exclusive interview, Baker emphasized the importance of marrying the various components of the power unit, including the combustion engine, electric motor, battery, and control electronics, into a single unit. “Successfully marrying the various components into a single unit is the result of hard work and great teamwork,” he said. “The Audi Power Unit has already covered simulated race distances on the test bench. We gained a lot of testing time with the individual components in 2023 and were able to incorporate the experience gained into the next construction stages in parallel.”
Dreyer added that the team has been testing the power unit on the test bench with different layouts from the current Formula 1 calendar, including the challenging Las Vegas circuit. “We run the power unit on the test bench with different layouts from the current F1 calendar, depending on the purpose of the test,” he explained. “For example, Las Vegas is interesting for our development team in terms of overall energy management. Several alternating fast and slow corners and almost two kilometres of full throttle driving on the Las Vegas Strip provide the perfect development environment for fine-tuning the combustion engine and the ERS (Energy Recovery System) components.”
With the power unit having hit race distances in runs, Audi can now shift its focus to adding further elements to its package. “After the successful race distances with the power unit, we will soon be doing the same with the entire drive system, which means the combination of power unit and transmission,” Dreyer said. “At the same time, we are going full throttle with performance development in order to achieve the goals we have set ourselves.”
Audi’s investment in its Neuburg facilities has also been significant, with a major modernization and expansion of its test facility. “We implemented a very ambitious modernisation and expansion of our test facility. Today, we have 22 state-of-the-art test benches at the site. Our new development tools are state-of-the-art and have enabled us to achieve a steep learning curve,” Dreyer said.
The German manufacturer has also partnered with a current fuel supplier for its 2026 project and has recruited technicians from other Formula 1 manufacturers to boost its knowledge base. As Audi continues to make progress on its Formula 1 engine, it’s clear that the team is gearing up for a strong entry into the championship in 2026.
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