One of the goals of Formula One (F1)’s 2026 regulations change was to attract new manufacturers to the sport. This has worked, and two new manufacturers, Cadillac and Audi, will join the grid. How well do these two new teams stack up against each other? What do we know about these teams so far? How will the driver dynamics be in these new teams?
This preview also covers the information we got about both teams from the recent Barcelona shakedown.
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2025 Recap
Although the rebranding provides a clean slate for Audi to start, when discussing the team’s form, it is important to evaluate the team’s run as Sauber last year. Before the start of the season, it was established that it was the team’s last year as Sauber and that it would be rebranded as Audi. The team aimed to establish a strong base for Audi.
The team announced a new driver pairing ahead of the 2025 season: veteran Nico Hulkenberg partnered with 2024 Formula Two (F2) champion Gabriel Bortoleto, combining experience and raw talent. The team had a slow start and struggled to score points consistently.
The mid-season upgrade proved a turning point as Sauber bounced back, and Nico Hulkenberg scored his maiden podium. This was followed by regular top 10 finishes and major improvements. 2025 served as the foundation for the upcoming Audi team.
The team scored a significant number of points and finished ninth in the constructors’ championship.
What is new for 2026?
As it is the first year for Cadillac, they are entering the sport for the first time. Let’s discuss all the key members involved. Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will be bringing their experience as drivers to the American team. Graeme Lowdon will be at the helm as the team principal.
Russ O’Blenes will lead the in-house power unit program, but initially the team will use a Ferrari engine. Nick Chester and consultant Pat Symonds will be in charge of chassis and aero development. Cadillac is building multiple operational bases in the United States (US) and Europe.
It is a long-term manufacturer project, not a short-term customer team, which aims to blend American engineering culture with European motorsport culture. The main goal so far is to capitalize on the new regulations and transition from Ferrari powertrains to a General Motors (GM)-built works powertrain.
Now, for Sauber, they are going through a major transformation as the whole team is rebranded as Audi. Now, let’s talk about what the key changes are beyond the name. The first major change is the powertrain, as Audi is an established manufacturer and will use its own powertrain instead of the Ferrari powertrain previously used by Sauber.
Leadership and operational roles are being reorganized around Audi’s F1 strategy, with important positions like Head of the Audi F1 Project expanded into new operational roles to help with the development of the car and the powertrain project. Jonathan Wheatley retains his role as team principal.
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Driver Dynamics and Comparison: Audi
Audi’s driver lineup is a combination of young talent and experience. Nico Hulkenberg brings vast experience and will most likely serve as a technical reference point for engineers during car development. The German driver contributed to most of the team’s points last season.
Gabriel Bortoleto, a McLaren development driver, brings a fresh perspective and represents the team’s long-term investment. In his sophomore year in F1, the focus will be on growth and predictability. In his first year, his performance was decent considering he was driving for Sauber.
Hulkenberg was stronger over one lap and led the intra-team battles during qualifying. He is known for clean racing, better tyre management, and being a more reliable driver.
Meanwhile, Bortoleto is on a learning curve and is more aggressive, but with massive potential. He was involved in various incidents during his rookie year, but over time, these issues should improve.
Both drivers signed multi-year contracts in 2025 and can be extended based on form beyond 2026. For this year, Nico Hulkenberg will be the senior driver and in a leadership role. Bortoleto can take on a senior role in the years ahead if he stays with the team, similar to George Russell’s role at Mercedes.
Driver Dynamics and Comparison: Cadillac
Both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas bring experience from years with multiple teams. If the experience of both drivers is combined, Cadillac will be one of the most experienced teams on the grid. For a new team, such experience can be very valuable.
Both drivers share similarities, but there are some key differences as well. Bottas’s driving style is smooth and methodical; he thrives in clean air and prefers a predictable car for extracting qualifying pace.
Perez is an adaptive driver who is aggressive in traffic and excels in defence during the later stages of races. He can struggle during qualifying sessions, but has the ability to turn things around on Sunday.
Bottas has the edge over Perez when it comes to qualifying and will likely set the team’s reference lap time. He is setup-dependent; if the car’s balance is neutral and the temperature is controlled, he thrives.
Meanwhile, Perez is known for his tyre preservation and his ability to extend stints and open up more strategic options for the team. Bottas performs well in low-pressure situations, while Perez thrives under pressure.
Now, let’s discuss how driver dynamics will work. Interestingly, both drivers have been secondary drivers for their previous teams, so who will be Cadillac’s number one driver?
Cadillac can choose a clear number one driver, but they can also go the McLaren route of having no priority driver and allowing both drivers to race freely and be supported equally. In theory, this sounds simple, but in practice, it is not, as seen in McLaren’s case, where they have found themselves in awkward situations due to the “papaya rules.”
Considering Sergio Perez is coming from Red Bull, a team known for prioritizing one driver, he will likely not settle for a secondary role after that experience.
The best-case scenario for the American team would be Bottas becoming a technical reference point during the development phase, while Perez acts as a race-day leader.
Some risk factors cannot be ignored. Bottas can struggle if the car lacks front-end confidence or overall balance. Perez can be vulnerable during qualifying, especially when compared to his teammate’s one-lap pace.
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What we know so far: Audi
At the time of writing this (02-Feb-2026), teams have conducted shakedown tests in Barcelona, and most of the information comes from those tests. We will discuss what we learned and list the strengths and weaknesses identified so far.
Audi’s R26 chassis made its public track debut during the 2026 Barcelona shakedown, marking the team’s debut as F1’s works team. Running was conducted under shakedown limits (approximately 200 km per day). The main focus was on system checks rather than performance testing.
The objective was power unit–chassis integration, validating cooling systems, energy recovery systems, and hybrid deployment under the 2026 regulations.
The car ran for more than 240 laps, which is considered strong for a new manufacturer. Early sessions were affected by reliability and technical issues, which limited mileage.
Both Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto split driving duties to gather baseline data and provide feedback on reliability and drivability.
From team management’s statements, it appears the current focus is on development rather than outright competitiveness.
What we know so far: Cadillac
Like Audi, Cadillac also completed its first run as a new team during the Barcelona shakedown. The American team used a special test livery designed to disguise aero details. The aim was to debug system errors, with reliability rather than performance as the primary focus.
Cadillac recorded 164 laps over the shakedown week. According to unofficial reports, Cadillac was off the pace compared to established teams such as Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren, but ahead of some back-of-the-grid teams such as Racing Bulls and Haas.
Both drivers participated in testing despite some technical difficulties, which are normal during a shakedown. Team principal Graeme Lowdon described these tests as a foundation for gathering baseline data.
Both drivers acknowledged that the car showed progress throughout the week, helping them better understand the car and close reliability gaps. The overall focus was on integrating the chassis with the Ferrari powertrain and understanding energy recovery and cooling under the new 2026 hybrid regulations.
This is a pivotal year for every Formula 1 team because of the new regulations. For the new entrants, it matters even more. A regulation reset creates a true clean slate, allowing teams not just to compete, but to define their identity, build momentum, and establish a reputation from day one.
