F1 2026 Pre-Season Testing
Photo credit: Audi Revolut F1 Team
Audi Revolut F1 Team completed a productive day of on-track action at the Bahrain International Circuit, as the first week of Pre-Season Testing came to an end. The three days of running helped the team further becoming familiar with its 2026 challenger, the R26, following an initial shakedown held in Barcelona a fortnight ago. Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg completed a total of 118 laps today, bringing the team’s three-day tally to 354 laps overall – covering 1,915.85 kilometres. Action will resume in a week’s time under the lights of Sakhir, with the final three days of 2026 pre-season testing.
Circuit: Bahrain International Circuit / 5.412 km
Driver: Gabriel Bortoleto (morning); Nico Hulkenberg (afternoon)
Laps:60 laps, 324.720 km (BOR); 58laps, 313.896 km (HUL)
Fastest Lap:1:37.536 – P15 (BOR); 1:36.291 – P10 (HUL)
Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal of Audi Revolut F1 Team:“Our three-day test in Bahrain was a productive and encouraging step forward for the team. We completed over 600 kilometres each day, which is a strong indication of the car’s early reliability and a testament to all the hard work and dedication behind the scenes.
"Beyond the mileage, we gathered valuable insights into the behaviour of the car and how our systems are operating under live conditions. Operationally, this test was an important validation of our procedures, and we’ve seen clear progress in communication, execution, and cross-team coordination.
"The next phase is about recovery, refinement and ensuring that we are fully prepared for the remaining test days. There’s still work to be done, but the foundations we’re building now will be critical for the season ahead.”
Nico Hulkenberg (Car 27):“Another solid afternoon and a productive end to the week on my side. There’s been a lot to take in - testing different setups, exploring the car, running through various power unit settings. It’s been full-on, but we’ve gathered a huge amount of info over the three days. Now it’s about taking a few days to digest and analyse everything, piece it all together, and prepare the next steps for the final test"
Gabriel Bortoleto (Car 5):“Overall, it’s been a positive, productive few days of testing for the team. Wegathered a great amount of valuable data and learned much more about our car and how to really maximise its potential – something to work on before we hit the track again in a few days. I am looking forward to next week, to bring the whole package together, put in some more strong laps, and finally start turning all the hard work into reality.”
Photo credit: Audi Revolut F1 Team
Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal of Audi Revolut F1 Team: “Our three-day test in Bahrain was a productive and encouraging step forward for the team. We completed over 600 kilometres each day, which is a strong indication of the car’s early reliability and a testament to all the hard work and dedication behind the scenes.
"Beyond the mileage, we gathered valuable insights into the behaviour of the car and how our systems are operating under live conditions. Operationally, this test was an important validation of our procedures, and we’ve seen clear progress in communication, execution, and cross-team coordination.
"The next phase is about recovery, refinement and ensuring that we are fully prepared for the remaining test days. There’s still work to be done, but the foundations we’re building now will be critical for the season ahead.”
Nico Hulkenberg (Car 27): “Another solid afternoon and a productive end to the week on my side. There’s been a lot to take in - testing different setups, exploring the car, running through various power unit settings. It’s been full-on, but we’ve gathered a huge amount of info over the three days. Now it’s about taking a few days to digest and analyse everything, piece it all together, and prepare the next steps for the final test"
Gabriel Bortoleto (Car 5): “Overall, it’s been a positive, productive few days of testing for the team. We gathered a great amount of valuable data and learned much more about our car and how to really maximise its potential – something to work on before we hit the track again in a few days. I am looking forward to next week, to bring the whole package together, put in some more strong laps, and finally start turning all the hard work into reality.”
]]
Photo credit: Audi Revolut F1 Team
