Nico Hülkenberg has expressed his admiration for Audi’s ambitious Formula 1 project following a visit to the manufacturer’s state-of-the-art facility in Neuburg.
The German driver, who became part of Audi’s F1 plans at the start of the season, was given an exclusive tour by Audi Formula Racing CEO Adam Baker and Chief Technical Officer Stefan Dreyer.
“I am impressed by what I have seen,” Hülkenberg said, according to motorsport.com. “The facility demonstrates how seriously Audi takes F1.
“Everything Audi has done in motorsport has been executed with precision. After Adam [Baker] and Stefan [Dreyer] gave me a tour of the factory, I am excited by the progress the team has made on the 2026 power unit.
“It was a pleasure to talk to the people in Neuburg and feel their passion. They are all working tirelessly and with dedication to make this project a success. I’m proud to be a part of this journey and excited for the years ahead.”
Hülkenberg and Audi look into the future
Hülkenberg’s enthusiasm follows his signing with Sauber in April 2024 on a multi-year deal, as the Swiss outfit prepares to become Audi’s official factory team in 2026.
Audi’s Competence Centre Motorsport is at the heart of this transformation. It has been significantly expanded to accommodate the F1 project. The facility now includes a newly constructed 3,000-square-metre building dedicated to engine development. Audi has already completed simulated race distances in its power unit testing, a key milestone in its progress towards the 2026 regulations.
“After just two years, our power unit, consisting of a combustion engine, electric motor, battery and control electronics, is running dynamically on the test bench,” said Baker.
“Successfully marrying the various components into a single unit is the result of hard work and great teamwork.
“The Audi Power Unit has already covered simulated race distances on the test bench. We gained a lot of testing time with the individual components in 2023 and were able to incorporate the experience gained into the next construction stages in parallel.
“Significant milestones and goals have been achieved, which gives the entire team a good feeling.”
What will happen?
While the Neuburg facility focuses on power unit development—including the energy recovery system, electric motor, battery, combustion engine, and transmission—Audi’s F1 project is operating from two key locations. The chassis is being designed and developed in Hinwil, Switzerland, making use of Sauber’s existing infrastructure.
With Audi making rapid progress and Hülkenberg set to play a central role in the team’s evolution, anticipation is building for their full entry into Formula 1 in 2026.
