First video of 2026 F1 cars in action released and fans LOVE it

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'Sounds incredible!' First video of 2026 F1 cars in action released and fans LOVE it

Audi have taken their 2026 car out on track!

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Friday 9 January 2026 15:06 Updated: 18:59

F1 fans have been left stunned by the sound of the new 2026 power units, as one team took their new car design out on track for the first time.

2026 sees huge regulation changes sweeping into the sport, both in terms of power units, as well as aerodynamic rule changes.

All 11 F1 teams will get 11 days of testing to try out their new machinery properly, with a five-day shakedown event taking place in Barcelona later in January, before two three-day events in Bahrain in February.

Article continues under video

But before any of that, Audi became the first team to head out on track with their new 2026 car design on Thursday, taking to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to film some promotional content.

In order to make sure that they couldn't gain a competitive advantage before official testing begins, Audi were limited by the F1 rules which states that only a maximum of 200 km can be completed during such events. That meant a maximum of 42 laps around the track, at which both Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg were present.

Now, a video circling on social media shows the car on track at Barcelona, and it's got fans very excited about the noise of the power units.

"Sounds incredible," one user excitedly exclaimed, while another channelled their inner Max Verstappen, saying: "Simply lovely."

Another X user commented: "I wouldn't want to be hasty, but these new power units seem to sound better," while another simply said: "Wow!"

2026 power unit changes

While the much-fancied idea of returning to V10 engines using 100 per cent sustainable fuels may happen in the future, the 2026 power unit changes are exciting in their own way.

The hybrid F1 engines will have triple the amount of emphasis on electrical energy than they did in 2025, meaning there is now a 50-50 split between electrical energy and the internal combustion engine.

F1's 2026 engines will also see the Energy Recovery System (ERS) able to recharge the battery with twice as much energy per lap, as F1 says goodbye to the MGU-H.

On top of this, there is also an exciting 'overtake' mode that drivers can utilise, which is replacing DRS which had been in the sport since 2011.

And it now appears that the new engines will sound good too, which is always a bonus for F1 fans.

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F1 2026 regulations Audi Nico Hulkenberg Gabriel Bortoleto