£949m-valued team are now working ‘full throttle’ behind the scenes on their 2026 F1 car

While Formula 1 is only a third of the way through the 2025 season, attention is already being shifted to 2026.

The 2026 F1 regulations present an exciting future for the sport, bringing an emphasis on sustainability and electrical power. With the cars set to transform from the ground effect era, teams are beginning to look to next season with their development efforts.

Able to use the wind tunnel to work on next season’s cars at the start of 2025, many teams have chosen to abandon this season’s machines. Williams are solely focused on 2026, while Ferrari will decide at the Belgian GP whether to halt development on the SF-25.

Cadillac will join the grid in 2026 as F1’s 11th team. The American brand, backed by General Motors, can focus solely on next season’s regulations, leaving many F1 teams thinking Cadillac have a ‘small head start’ over the rest of the field.

Another team that may have a similar advantage is Audi. The German manufacturer will join F1 as a factory team in 2026, taking over Sauber at the end of the year.

Nico Hulkenberg says Audi are going ‘full throttle’ behind the scenes to prepare for 2026

Much like 2024, Sauber are struggling for consistent points finishes. Nico Hulkenberg scored all six of the team’s points so far in Melbourne, which is two more than they scored last season.

Teammate Gabriel Bortoleto has broken into Q2 on some occasions, but the duo are generally languishing towards the back of the field. But under a reinvigorated Jonathan Wheatley, Sauber are making extensive preparations behind the scenes for Audi’s arrival.

Speaking via Servus TV, Hulkenberg shared that Audi are ‘going full throttle’ at the factory to get ready for 2026. Asked whether he is thinking about 2026 yet, he replied: “No, not currently. I am, of course… the team in the factory that is developing the ’26 car.

“All teams were allowed to start in the wind tunnel from midnight on January 1st, 2026. And of course, our guys have been going full throttle ever since.”

Asked whether he was working on developing things such as the steering wheel, he added: “Exactly things like that, of course, these structural things, the things that have a long, long lead time.

“We were involved a few months ago, just to make sure that everything was OK in terms of performance and simulation and simulator, things are now slowly getting started.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Sauber from team principal to 2026 Audi future

What are Nico Hulkenberg’s prospects with Audi in 2026?

Given Audi’s success in other motorsport series, many may anticipate the German manufacturer to be a force in F1. With Hulkenberg and Bortoleto, the team have a great balance of experience and young potential.

But the team have multiple obstacles to overcome, with there being constant claims that they cannot attract staff to join Sauber at their factory in Switzerland. Mattia Binotto rubbished those claims, citing Wheatley’s arrival as a prime example.

Binotto admitted Audi ‘won’t have the best’ power unit in 2026. The engine will need time to develop before it can be a competitive package.

The German outfit already have two strong drivers on board, but who the lead driver will be could be up for debate. Nelson Piquet Jr has predicted Bortoleto to beat Hulkenberg; the Brazilian will be determined to impose himself on the team.