Audi facing 'longest ever list' as true scale of F1 challenge unmasked

Audi chief Mattia Binotto says he has "never seen such a long list" of issues it must fix after the Barcelona pre-season shakedown. 

In its first pre-season test in F1, Audi completed 240 laps across the permitted three days of running, but Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto were hampered by niggling problems with the R26 machine, with Bortoleto stopping on track on one occasion.

Whilst Audi is not the only new power unit manufacturer on the 2026 grid, with Red Bull Powertrains also debuting, it is the only team to be running its own in-house power unit, with RBPT powering both Red Bull and Racing Bulls, meaning twice the data is able to be gathered.

Whilst he is optimistic that the team can solve the issues before heading to the Bahrain tests in February, Binotto described how he had "never seen" a list of the length of the problems Audi discovered at the former Spanish Grand Prix host venue. 

"It is a lot of work for the entire team, it is a lot of work for the drivers, for the engineers back at home fixing all the problems in design and operationals, whatever we have seen," Binotto explained.

"For us, it is no stone left unturned, and we need all the details to be managed and fixed, so we've got a very long, a very, very long list.

"I've never seen such a long list, but I think it is great because the team is really committed and willing to improve and come to Bahrain in better shape.

"There is a lot to build, a lot to grow, but the three days of running have been very, very important, and I think we are doing well for where we are in our journey.

"The reliability is always very critical, but we had several small problems, not dramatic, but there are a lot of positives looking forward.

"This is the beginning for Audi of our experience as a team, as a power unit manufacturer, and I would sum up that there is a lot to learn, and we are learning a lot. 

"The more we run, the more we learn."