Audi will not upgrade its F1 engine further this season
Audi's Formula 1 team has confirmed it will not introduce further engine upgrades this season, shifting focus to 2027 plans. The decision stems from strict budget cap rules and the need to balance spending across multiple seasons.
German manufacturer Audi, having taken over the former Sauber team and launched its first Formula 1 engine project, frequently finished outside the top ten early in the season. That began to change at the Spanish Grand Prix, where the team introduced its first engine upgrade of the year.
According to driver Nico Hulkenberg, the update mainly improved the car's handling, which had previously been a weak point of the Audi R26. Since that upgrade, the team's performance has clearly improved — Audi has scored points in the last three races and moved ahead of Williams in the Constructors' Championship standings.
Further steps pushed to 2027
Asked about the timing of the next engine upgrades, team representative Mekies was brief, stating that major changes would only come next year. The decision is largely driven by Formula 1's strict budget cap regulations and the need to manage spending sensibly across several seasons.
Mekies explained that every team must weigh the trade-off between investing in the chassis and the engine, and decide where to allocate available funds. That is why the changes introduced in Barcelona were relatively modest, though they still delivered a positive effect.
The biggest power unit upgrades are planned for 2027, meaning no major engine developments should be expected before then, since redesigning hardware takes considerable time.
