Audi F1 is set to fire up its new power unit in the back of its first F1 chassis over the coming days as preparations for F1 2026 ramp up.<\/p>\n
Jonathan Wheatley says plans to fire up the first Audi hybrid F1 engine remain on schedule, with the achievement set to be reached before Christmas.<\/p>\n
Jonathan Wheatley: Audi F1 engine fire-up before Christmas<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Sauber team boss Jonathan Wheatley revealed the intention to fire up the new Audi F1 engine in December, with that timeline still on schedule.<\/p>\n
The Sauber name disappears after 32 years this winter, with the Swiss squad morphing into the factory Audi F1 team following a full takeover by the German manufacturer.<\/p>\n
Manufacturing its own chassis and power unit for the new regulations incoming for 2026, Wheatley said the fact that the winter testing programme is starting so early has brought all the teams and manufacturers\u2019 schedules forward compared to most years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re bringing together a brand new power unit with a chassis for the first time and we\u2019re firing it up before Christmas. I can\u2019t remember ever doing that,\u201d Wheatley told media including PlanetF1.com after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo there\u2019s a huge amount to do between now and then, and that\u2019s why we talk about this project to be challenging at the end of the decade, because it takes time, and I\u2019m hoping, certainly, I have a little bit more time in my life when I\u2019ve just got to concentrate on being Audi<\/a> and not being two teams at the same time!\u201d<\/p>\n Watch our drifting finale with V14<\/p>\n Wheatley\u2019s F1 career stems back over 30 years and, in his experience, such an early fire-up of the following season\u2019s engine\/car is unprecedented.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not normal in Formula 1 to do it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is normal for everybody this year, because basically we brought the whole winter testing programme forward, so all of your targets.<\/p>\n \u201cI think, for me, to have a car ready at that time actually shows how well Sauber will have done.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we\u2019ll actually have our definitive race chassis, our engine, all together, fired up with all the right people, before Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n Regardless of how early Audi\u2019s fire-up comes, the German manufacturer has already been beaten by Honda.<\/p>\n The Japanese manufacturer shared an audio recording of its new 2026 1.6-litre V6 hybrid on social media<\/a> on Friday, marking the first insight into how the new formula will sound.<\/p>\n Speculative reports have suggested that Audi will take to the track for the first time on January 9, with a filming day mooted to take place at Barcelona\u2019s Circuit de Catalunya on that day, more than two weeks in advance of the beginning of the first private track test for the 11 F1 teams at the same venue between January 26th and 30th.<\/p>\n Sources within Audi have declined to clarify the accuracy of this date, given the desire of all the teams to keep initial track time away from the prying eyes of fans and the media; even the first five days of official track time will take place behind closed doors.<\/p>\n More on Audi in F1<\/p>\n Audi reveals R26 F1 concept car as ambitious target set<\/a><\/p>\n