PRE-SEASON
Feb 08-10
The F1 season picks up in earnest this week with two back-to-back test sessions in Bahrain – the first from 11-13 February and the second from 18-20 February. Given news and content stemming from the test will undoubtedly dominate F1 reporting on these pages over the next two weeks, an F1 Update ahead of that in order to preview the test and also get F1 enthusiasts up to speed on other activities from Audi Revolut F1 was in order. Here’s a summary.
BAHRAIN DAY 0 TEST AGENDA & WHERE TO WATCH
With the test imminent, we’re also getting a better look at Audi Revolut F1’s posting practices on Instagram. It goes without saying, but if your aim is to follow along with Audi F1 efforts this season, then you really need to be following this account. Yesterday the team posted a Testing Schedule (embedded above). From that, we know the testing agenda for this week’s test will include a morning session for Gabriel Bortoleto and afternoon session for Nico Hulkenberg on Wednesday. They’ll flip morning and afternoon positions for Thursday so that Nico is in the morning and Gabi is after noon, then flip again on Friday.
In a second post by the team, we even know their checklist for the day prior to the test (a.k.a. “Day 0”). According to the post, this includes Powertrain optimization, Aero package characterization, Car setup refinement, 2026 tire characterization, Qualifying and race simulations and Race team synergy.
On track activities will be broadcast, so it’s worth tuning in if you care to get a first glimpse of Audi Revolut F1 on track. As has already been reported, U.S. distribution moves to Apple TV this year. Using your Apple TV account, you should still be able to access F1.TV as in previous years, but the content will also be available on Apple TV itself. Following the link today seems to take viewers to a pop-up inviting you to enter your email for updates about F1 broadcast availability.
SUPERBOWL SURPRISE AUDI R26 ON DISPLAY WITH ADIDAS
Given the Super Bowl represents top-tier atheltics in the USA and that Audi Revolut F1 apparel partner adidas also has a collaborative deal with the half-time show star Bad Bunny, it was a foregone conclusion that adidas would host a pop-up adidas Brand Hub activation in San Francisco as part of its presence at the Big Game this past week.
The pop-up space was designed as an immersive, experience-driven showcase, bringing together athletes, personalities, and brand partners for product highlights, media moments, and fan engagement around the Super Bowl festivities.
In a surprise move to F1 fans and also many even at Audi, a display version o fthe Audi R26 F1 car turned up at the Brand Hub as a centerpiece attraction. The presence of the Audi R26 highlighted this cross-brand partnership: adidas leveraging its Super Bowl platform to spotlight the upcoming Audi F1 program, while Audi was able to utilize adidas’s hub to build awareness around its motorsport launch. The R26’s exhibition provided an eye-catching backdrop and a distinctive contrast to the football-centric energy of the event and marked the R26’s first (surprise) appearance in the United States.
Among those photographed at the adidas Brand Hub with the car were a group of high-profile NFL players — including Trevor Lawrence (Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars), Abdul Carter (Linebacker, New York Giants), Josh Downs (Wide receiver, Indianapolis Colts), and Romeo Doubs (Wide receiver, Green Bay Packers). Their presence underscored adidas’s strategy of leveraging prominent athletes for the activation, offering additional visibility and cultural cachet during one of the year’s biggest sports weeks.
Seeing the car was in the USA, we did inquire with Audi in order to see if there would be any other opportunities for fans to see the car before it leaves. One source close to the team informed us the car was only there for the Big Game placement and would be returning to Switzerland imminently. Another Audi source stated that it’s possible it might be staying for one further adidas-connected activity with the upcoming NBA All-Star Game in the Los Angeles area before heading to Melbourne for the F1 season opening Australian Grand Prix (March 6-8).
If that information is true, we’d expect the R26 will most likely appear as it did in San Francisco – likely in a very limited access area that is part of an adidas brand presence somewhere in the vicinity of the NBA All-Star Game will take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA on February 15.
Following its Brand Hub activation around Super Bowl LX, adidas has historically brought experiential brand spaces to major sporting events — including a dedicated hub during NBA All-Star Weekend in 2025. For NBA All-Star 2026 in Los Angeles, adidas has announced a range of activations and immersive experiences tied to new adidas Basketball sneaker drops and community-oriented events such as AntLand and youth showcases, reflecting the brand’s ongoing commitment to basketball culture. Race fans seeking an early look at the Audi R26 may find
AUDI F1 ADDS IC! BERLIN AS OFFICIAL EYEWEAR PARTNER
Audi Revolut F1 has announced a new partnership with ic! berlin, the Berlin-based eyewear specialist known for its minimalist design and patented screwless hinge construction. The brand, owned by Marcolin, joins the growing roster of partners supporting Audi’s Formula 1 project ahead of its 2026 debut.
The collaboration is built around shared values of engineering precision, functional design and modern aesthetics. ic! berlin has built its reputation on lightweight, flexible metal frames engineered for durability and comfort, with a design philosophy that emphasizes clarity and purpose over ornamentation — an approach that aligns closely with Audi’s own design language as it establishes its F1 identity.
As Official Eyewear Partner, ic! berlin will outfit team personnel and contribute to the visual presence of the Audi Revolut F1 Team across paddock and off-track environments. The partnership is positioned as more than simple product placement, instead reflecting a broader alignment between performance engineering and contemporary industrial design.
For Audi, the deal continues a clear trend of partnering with brands that reinforce a premium, design-driven image around its F1 entry. For ic! berlin, Formula 1 offers a global stage to place its distinctly German approach to engineered eyewear in one of the world’s most performance-focused sporting arenas.
PHOTO GALLERY BAHRAIN TEST, DAY 0
