The Audi F1 team has confirmed to PlanetF1.com that Gabriel Bortoleto suffered a \u201ctechnical issue\u201d on the opening morning of F1 2026 pre-season testing in Barcelona.<\/p>\n
It comes after images circulated on social media of Bortoleto\u2019s Audi R26 car stopped on track.<\/p>\n
Audi F1 confirms \u2018technical issue\u2019 for Gabriel Bortoleto<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Five days of testing are being held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with teams permitted to run on a maximum of three of the five available days.<\/p>\n The event is being held behind closed doors as teams get to grips with their new cars for the 2026 season, which has brought a major overhaul of the technical regulations.<\/p>\n Audi is one of five engine manufacturers on the F1 2026 grid along with fellow newcomer Red Bull-Ford and established power unit manufacturers Mercedes, Ferrari and Honda.<\/p>\n Audi F1 preparing for debut season in F1 2026<\/p>\n F1 2026 uncovered: How Boost, Overtake, and sustainable fuel change the game<\/a><\/p>\n F1 2026 uncovered: The game-changing potential of \u2018Active Aero\u2019 revealed<\/a><\/p>\n The Swiss-based outfit became the first team to take to the track with its 2026 car in a shakedown in Barcelona on January 9, more than two weeks before the start of testing.<\/p>\n Images have circulated on social media of the distinctive Audi R26 stationary on track and surrounded by marshals on Monday.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8El Audi de Bortoleto parado en la subida del estadio#F1<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/4NMdTegI1T<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SoyMotor.com (@SoyMotor) January 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Bortoleto, preparing for his second full season in F1, was behind the wheel of the R26 on the opening morning of testing.<\/p>\n PlanetF1.com has received confirmation from Audi that Bortoleto suffered a \u201ctechnical issue\u201d with the team investigating the cause.<\/p>\n Alpine driver Franco Colapinto is also believed to have stopped on track during the opening morning of testing.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Mat Coch<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n Read next:\u00a0F1 Testing LIVE: Follow updates from the first day of testing in Barcelona<\/a><\/p>\n