Audi Revolut F1 Team heads directly from Monza to Madrid this weekend for Round 14 of the 2026 Formula 1 season and the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit. The race completes the Monza-Madrid back-to-back and closes the European portion of the calendar before Formula 1 heads overseas. More significantly, Madring represents a genuine unknown for the entire grid: no team has previous race data from the venue, putting greater emphasis on simulator preparation and the ability to learn quickly during Friday practice. Audi’s guide to the new Madring circuitoffers a closer look at Formula 1’s newest venue.
Madrid follows a Monza weekend in which Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg recovered from difficult starts but finished 11th and 12th, narrowly outside the points. Racing Director Allan McNish believes the lack of previous experience at Madring will make efficient use of practice particularly important. After scoring points in four consecutive races before Monza, Audi will be looking to return to the top 10 and finish the European leg of its debut Formula 1 season on a stronger note.
There is also considerable interest for Audi further down the Madrid support-race paddock. Formula 3 returns for its season finale at Madring, where Audi Driver Development Programme driver Freddie Slater arrives with a 15-point championship lead and three races remaining. That gives Audi two storylines to follow across an entirely new race weekend: Hülkenberg and Bortoleto attempting to put the R26 back into the Formula 1 points while Slater tries to secure the Formula 3 championship. With every driver learning Madring at the same time, Friday’s opening practice sessions should provide the first meaningful indication of how Audi’s preparations translate to the new circuit.
R:14 SCHEDULE
| DAY/DATE | ACTIVITY | TRACK TIME | CET | EST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 11 Sep | Practice 1 | 13:30-14:30 | 13:30-14:30 | 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM |
| Fri 11 Sep | Practice 2 | 17:00-18:00 | 17:00-18:00 | 11:00 AM -12:00 AM |
| Sat 12 Sep | Practice 3 | 12:30-13:30 | 12:30-13:30 | 6:30 AM – 7:30 AM |
| Sat 12 Aug | Qualifying | 16:00-17:00 | 16:00-17:00 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
| Sun 13 Aug | Grand Prix | 15:00 | 15:00 | 9:00 AM |
R:13 RACE INFORMATION
AUDI REVOLUT F1 | FORMULA 1 SERIES | OFFICIAL MADRING WEBSITE
MONZA APPEAL RESULTS UPDATE
Audi has confirmed it will move forward with its appeal of the FIA stewards’ decision not to penalize Yuki Tsunoda following the Italian Grand Prix. Audi initially filed a notice of intention to appeal following Sunday’s race, giving the team 96 hours to decide whether to formally pursue the case. According to Autosport, sources have now confirmed that Audi will follow through with the appeal process ahead of that deadline.
The dispute centers on the restart following Charles Leclerc’s early accident. Tsunoda initially approached the wrong side of the grid before correcting his trajectory and stopping in his proper grid box, though at an angle that left race director Rui Marques uncomfortable proceeding with the restart. Marques consequently ordered another formation lap. Article B5.9.4 of the 2026 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations requires a driver who causes an additional formation lap to enter the pit lane at the end of that lap and start from there. Tsunoda did not do so, but the stewards ultimately took no further action. Formula 1’s original report on the decision details the stewards’ reasoning.
At issue is essentially the definition of who “caused” the extra formation lap. The stewards determined that it resulted from Marques’ assessment of the situation rather than directly from Tsunoda, while also noting that Race Control never informed Racing Bulls that Car 22 was considered responsible. Audi appears to be taking a more literal view of the regulation: if Tsunoda’s positioning prompted the race director to order the additional lap, then Article B5.9.4 should apply. Motorsport.com’s report on the original appeal notice includes the stewards’ explanation of why they believed a penalty could not be imposed.
The outcome could still change the Italian Grand Prix results. Tsunoda finished 10th, immediately ahead of Audi drivers Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg in 11th and 12th. Had Tsunoda been required to start from the pit lane but failed to do so, the prescribed stop-and-go penalty would have been converted after the race to a 30-second time penalty, promoting Bortoleto to 10th and giving Audi the final championship point. Audi is also understood to want clarification about how the rule will be applied in future situations, regardless of whether the Monza result is ultimately changed. The FIA has not yet announced a date for the appeal hearing.
R:14 TEAM RACE PREVIEW
Audi Revolut F1 Team will run its first laps in a brand-new venue, as the Madring circuit makes its debut on the calendar as the host of the Spanish Grand Prix. The weekend marks the second leg of the Monza-Madrid back-to-back and brings the European chapter of the season to a close before the championship heads back overseas. After narrowly missing out on points in Monza, the team will look to make the most of the opportunities presented by a track that is completely new for everyone on the grid.
The eyes of the paddock won’t just be on Formula One, however, as Formula 3 returns to action in Madrid for the season finale. Audi Driver Development Programme driver, Freddie Slater, maintains the lead of the championship by 15 points with the three races in programme at the Madring remaining.
TEAM QUOTES
Allan McNish, Racing Director
“Madrid will be a new challenge for everyone, and there is always an added element of the unknown when we arrive at a circuit for the first time. It means we will need to be effective in every practice session and build up as best as we can ahead of qualifying and the race, making the most of the preparation work we have done in the sim and at HQ. It is the final European race of the season before we head back overseas, so we want to finish this part of the calendar on a strong note and deliver another solid performance into the top ten.”
Nico Hulkenberg, Car #27 “There’s always something exciting about arriving at a brand-new circuit. Nobody really knows what to expect until the cars hit the track, so it’s one of those weekends where you have to learn and adapt very quickly. Overall, we’ve been moving in the right direction over the last few races and, if we can get on top of things early, hopefully we can put ourselves in a good position to finish the European part of the season on a positive note.”
Gabriel Bortoleto, Car #5
“I’m looking forward to the race in Madrid: I’ve been preparing for it in the simulator, and now I’m curious to experience it for real. A new circuit is always an exciting challenge, because everyone starts from a similar position and we’ll be learning new things as we go through the weekend. We were better than we expected in Monza in terms of performance, which was encouraging, and hopefully Madrid will give us a chance to fight for something more. It’s the last race in Europe this year, so it would be nice to finish this run with a strong result.”
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