Audi unveiled a concept livery at a launch event in Munich, Germany, ahead of their debut season. The German automaker will enter F1 next year, taking over the Sauber team. The event included the unveiling of what Audi is calling the R26 Concept. While the car is likely nothing more than a showcar, it does where a silver, red and black livery, which will be the basis of Audi’s F1 branding. Audi CEO Gernot Doellner has big ambitions for the team, claiming that they will be “challengers” for the first two seasons, making their way to “real competitors” from 2028 and will “fight for the championship” in 2030.
Red Bull is getting a head start on 2026, becoming the first team to confirm its livery launch event. The upcoming season marks Red Bull’s first season with Ford power units, ending its partnership with Honda. Red Bull will unveil its 2026 livery in a launch event in Detroit, Michigan, on January 15. That’s just two weeks ahead of the start of pre-season testing.
Toto Wolff is in talks to sell part of his Mercedes F1 ownership. The sale would include 5% ownership in the Mercedes F1 Team, valued at $300m. If completed, this would make Mercedes the highest valued F1 team at a record $6b. The team is currently owned by Toto Wolff, Mercedes-Benz, and the chemical company INEOS. It is believed that George Kurtz, CEO and co-founder of the American cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, is the potential buyer. CrowdStrike has sponsored the team since 2019, and Kurtz is an avid sports car racer.
The F1 Commission met for the final time this year, discussing mandatory two-stop strategies. Despite mixed results in Monaco, the idea of forcing teams to make two pit stops during the race has gained some traction over the last few months. This has included other subtopics like changes to the tyre specifications, limits to tyre-life, and the use of three tyre compounds during the race, all in the name of producing more varied race strategies. Although there was still no firm support for the concept, the commission agreed to continue discussions on the topic next year. Along with some other discussions around aerodynamic testing and driving cooling systems, the commission also discussed paint requirements for 2026 liveries. It was agreed that at least 55% of the surface area of the car must be covered by paint or sticker, preventing the trend in carbon fibre liveries we’ve seen in the past few years, in an effort to save weight. This requirement will come into effect next year.
McLaren has signed Matteo De Palo to its McLaren Driver Development Programme for 2026. The 18-year-old Italian will be making the step up to Formula 3 next year with Trident, having finished runner-up in the Formula Regional European Championship this year with the same team. Unfortunately, McLaren has also announced the departure of three Formula 3 drivers from the programme. Ugo Ugochukwu, who joined in 2021, Martinius Stenshorne, who joined last year, and Brando Badoer, who joined at the end of last year, will be leaving the programme at the end of the year.
Tickets for the Mexican Grand Prix have already sold out, as the venue closes its early ticket sale. This is likely, in large part, due to Sergio Perez’s return to the grid in 2026. The home hero sat out this season after losing his seat at Red Bull after a lacklustre 2024. He has since signed a contract to race alongside Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac for their debut season. Due to high demand, the Mexican Grand Prix organizers will give 2026 ticket holders the opportunity to have first dibs on tickets for 2027 and 2028 once those tickets become available.
It can be challenging for even the most avid fans to keep up with the fast-paced world of Formula One. The Weekly F1 Recap is a series published each Monday that breaks down the action, both on and off the circuit, into bit-sized pieces. It's perfect for casual and experienced fans alike.
