MUNICH, Germany—Audi’s long-awaited Formula 1 team gave the world its first look at what the Audi R26 will look like when it takes to the track next year. Well, sort of—the car you see here is a generic show car for the 2026 aero regulations, but the livery you see, plus the sponsors’ logos, will race next year.

“By entering the pinnacle of motorsport, Audi is making a clear, ambitious statement. It is the next chapter in the company’s renewal. Formula 1 will be a catalyst for the change towards a leaner, faster, and more innovative Audi,” said Gernot Döllner, Audi’s CEO. “We are not entering Formula 1 just to be there. We want to win. At the same time, we know that you don’t become a top team in Formula 1 overnight. It takes time, perseverance, and tireless questioning of the status quo. By 2030, we want to fight for the World Championship title,” Döllner said.

I’ll admit, when I first saw the images Audi sent ahead of time, I was a little underwhelmed, but in person, as you approach it from different angles, it makes a lot more sense. The design is more than a little minimalist, juxtaposing straight-edged geometric blocks of color with the aerodynamically curved bodywork they adorn. The titanium references Audi’s latest concept car, and the red—which is almost fluorescent in person—is an all-new shade called Audi Red. It’s used to highlight the car’s various air intakes and looks really quite effective.

Why F1?

After a long and glorious history in sportscar racing and rallying before that, Audi’s motorsports activities virtually evaporated in the wake of dieselgate and then a brief Formula E program. Then in early 2022, Volkswagen Group revealed that after decades of “will they, won’t they” speculation, not one but two of its brands—Audi and Porsche—would be entering F1 in 2026. (The Porsche deal with Red Bull would later fall apart.)