Audi unveils R26 concept and targets F1

Nov 12, 2025 | Formula 1

Intro

Audi has shown a new concept livery for its first Formula 1 car. The unveiling took place in Munich. It is the R26 Concept, a preview of the look of the car that will appear on the grid in 2026.

What exactly was presented?

The concept displays a two-part colour scheme. The front follows the recently introduced Concept C with an all-titanium look. The rear is finished in carbon black with accents in a new Audi red hue. The red colour is used selectively, including for the famous Audi rings.

Historical reference

The design references Audi's racing past. Part of the inspiration comes from the Auto Union Type C. Those cars were important in the brand's pre-history.

Planning and test programme

Audi and the former Sauber team have a tight schedule. The team name officially changes on 1 January. The real R26 will be presented later that month.

The first runs will take place shortly afterwards. The car first runs behind closed doors during a joint test in Barcelona. This will be followed by official pre-season tests in front of the public.

• Official rebranding: 1 January
• Launch real R26: later in January
• First on-track runs: private collective test in Barcelona
• Colour scheme: titanium front, carbon black rear, selective Audi red

Brand guide and sponsors

The concept presentation focused on Audi itself. No logos of the expected partners were visible. Names such as Revolut, bp and Adidas were missing. References to the Qatar Investment Authority were also missing. This suggests that Audi wants to put the brand identity at the centre first.

Why this matters

Audi wants to make a strong visual impression. Massimo Frascella, Chief Creative Officer, said the goal is to have the most striking car on the grid. Off the track, Audi also wants to be the boldest brand.

According to CEO Gernot Döllner, design is a core part of Audi's DNA. The Concept C already gave a glimpse of its future design style. The Formula 1 car will be the second concrete example of that new philosophy.

Lock

The R26 Concept highlights Audi's commitment to linking the F1 approach to its broader brand strategy. The focus is on recognisability and design. The next few months will show how that translates to the real racing car and the racing wheel on the track.

Verstappen: Barcelona incident was my only big mistake

Nov 12, 2025 | Formula 1

Verstappen acknowledges mistake in Barcelona and explains

Max Verstappen calls the Barcelona incident the only criticism of his 2025 season. In an interview, he says he briefly lost control. That moment led to contact with George Russell and a penalty.

What happened during the restart

The race restarted after a safety car. Verstappen had to take hard tyres after a pit stop. At the last corner, he made a mistake that allowed Charles Leclerc to pass him. Leclerc slid to the inside in the process, resulting in contact between the wheels.

At Turn 1, Russell went on the attack. Verstappen went into the foothills and was later instructed to return the spot. He briefly let off the throttle, but when Russell was in front of him, Verstappen went to attack on the inside at Turn 5. In the process, he hit the left side of Russell's car.

Race control gave Verstappen a 10-second time penalty. As a result, he dropped from fifth on the track to ninth in the final standings after the finish.

Why Verstappen reacted the way he did

Verstappen says it mostly stemmed from frustration. He finds it difficult to leave the track without the feeling of having tried everything. ‘I cannot drive at 80 per cent,’ he said. When too much is against him, he gets angry with himself. That was the case in Barcelona.

He calls it a learning point. Such moments are rare, he expects, and it is something he will learn from and get better at.

• Verstappen accepts the mistake and calls it an exception.
• He received a 10-second penalty and lost four places.
• He stresses that he always wants to give his all and is strict with himself on that.

Place in the bigger picture of the season

Apart from Barcelona, Verstappen is satisfied with his season. Especially in qualifying, he sees progress. He says he has mostly made the most of the available material.

This season also saw other tricky weekends. Consider Silverstone, where the wet weather made his trimmed rear wing disadvantageous. It did not work well in Hungary either and he finished further back. Still, he continues to feel that the team and he often enough got the best out of the Red Bull RB21.

Self-reflection and outlook

Verstappen shows rare candour by publicly admitting where he went wrong. He says his biggest weakness is that he sometimes reacts emotionally when a lot is against him. He is working on it and expects such points to be few and far between.

In the end, his conclusion is positive. He is satisfied with his performance and wants to keep improving, especially in dealing with frustration during races.

Norris almost champion after dream weekend in Brazil 2025

Nov 11, 2025 | Formula 1

Norris grabs lead with perfect weekend

Lando Norris experienced the perfect race weekend in Brazil. He won both the sprint and the main race. In doing so, he took maximum points. In contrast, his teammate and title rival lost ground. Two races ago, Oscar Piastri was still leading the championship. After Interlagos, Norris is now 24 points ahead.

Why this moment is so important

The season had many shifting phases between the three contenders. Yet Norris seems to be in a good flow at the moment. Analysts call his confidence clearer than earlier this year. He now has a buffer that gives him air, even if it is not yet decided.

What does that lead mean practically?

With three grands prix and one sprint to go, Norris no longer needs a race win to become champion; in theory, he can make it without finishing first again. But that all depends on his performance and a bit of luck. One bad weekend could change everything.

Can Piastri still come back?

Oscar Piastri is definitely not out of the championship yet. There are still 83 points to be earned. That is enough to even out the difference. Yet Piastri suffered a major blow this weekend. He made a mistake in the sprint and crashed. On Sunday, he got a 10-second time penalty after a restart incident in which another driver crashed out. That penalty cost him a lot of points.

Analysts believe that penalty weighed heavily on his chances. Some evaluators called it a racing incident. Others said the manoeuvre did not comply with the rules for claiming racing space. Whatever you call it, it was a defining moment in the title race.

Verstappens chances dwindle

Max Verstappen made little progress from a championship point of view. He had to start from the pit lane because of a new power source and therefore ran big risks. Nevertheless, he later drove to a handsome third place. That again showed his qualities. But he is still 49 points behind Norris.

The reality is that Verstappen now needs a lot of luck. To still become champion, he needs to score a lot of points multiple times and hope for bad luck at both McLarens. That is not impossible, but unlikely.

Key figures at a glance

• Norris' lead over Piastri: 24 points
• Points still to be earned: 83 (three grands prix plus one sprint)
• Verstappen's gap to Norris: 49 points
• Piastri received a 10-second penalty after a restart incident

What remains to be done?

Above all, Norris needs to keep his focus. He has experience with pressure and can stay calm. Three flawless weekends and a bit of luck could be enough to clinch the championship. Piastri needs to peak again soon. He needs to avoid risks and score maximum points. Verstappen has the least margin: he needs almost everything with him to get back in contention.

In short: Norris is in an excellent position, but world titles rarely fall without a fight. The remaining races remain crucial.