Leaked Images Reveal the First 2026 F1 Car on Track

Formula 1 fans have got their first taste of the new generation of cars in 2026, as one has been run on track for the very first time.

Audi, taking over the Sauber team for 2026, conducted their shakedown at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona this week, giving us a glimpse into what cars will look and sound like when we reach Melbourne for the first race this year.

No media was officially present, and the only photos shared by Audi were cleverly bloomed and framed to give away as little detail as possible. However, motorsport facilities are pretty easy to see into. The perimeter fences are only mesh and, in today’s day and age, someone working in and around the action always has a phone to sneak a photo out of any top secret work.

What Do the Photos Tell Us?

We all know by now what size and rough shape the 2026 cars are likely to look like, and the new Audi R26 is no different. The car was sporting a pure black, sponsor-less livery at the shakedown to give away as little detail to prying eyes as possible.

It seems as though the car looks similar to the final evolution of ground effect cars. Keen eyes (and users of the exposure tool on Photoshop) have spotted the R26 sporting pushrod suspension on both the front and rear, with a sidepod profile quite different to the down-washing style perfected through the ground effect era.

From the images leaked, they seem to be much more vertical, rounding at the front and pinching towards the coke bottle section, like a modern interpretation of the styles seen throughout the 90’s and early 2000’s. The front is similar to the official F1 concept design, with the nose raised on two supports, though we of course can’t see any of the intricate design in these photos.

There have been videos leaked from the testing, letting us experience the sound for the new generation of F1 cars. Now, purists will be disappointed to know that no, they still don’t sound like the old V8 or V10 engines. However, these turbo V6 hybrid engines are no longer the lawnmowers they were back in 2014. This generation of engine now gives out a tenor, throaty gargling that genuinely sounds fantastic and unique.

When Will We See More?

Most teams have their car launches coming up within the next few days. The rest will be in the next few weeks. Some teams will only be releasing their 2026 livery, whilst others are launching their full car.

Then, each team will have a series of filming days where the car will appear on track, before the private test days begin in Barcelona on January 26th.

Teams will be doing everything they can to mask their final car spec until practice in Melbourne. This might include running different spec aero parts during pre-season testing, whilst the teams are primarily testing reliability, before revealing the genuine car at the first race.

All we know for sure is that 2026 is sure to be an exciting year for Formula 1.