As Audi F1 and Cadillac, two newcomers for 2026, were accumulating laps in Barcelona, Williams shared an image of Carlos Sainz during his seat fitting for the FW48.
This highlighted the significant progress Audi and Cadillac have made thus far. However, the challenges both teams faced in Barcelona underscored the long journey ahead of them…
Audi F1 and Cadillac Deserve Patience in F1 2026
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A version of this article was originally published in PlanetF1.com’s Barcelona Shakedown Conclusions.
During the second-to-last day of testing in Barcelona, it became evident just how far Audi and Cadillac have come. While most teams completed numerous laps, Williams shared an update from their factory, announcing, “Another piece of the puzzle complete,” along with a photo of Carlos Sainz fitting into the FW48 seat.
This is the same Williams team that wrapped up car development early last season to ensure a strong start for 2026. Cadillac, which is the first new team in a decade, already surpassed significant milestones by sharing footage of Valtteri Bottas’s seat fit a day after the last race of the previous season. Meanwhile, Audi proudly became the first team to hit the track with its 2026 car on January 9, ahead of the first test.
Despite achieving these milestones, the Barcelona shakedown revealed that both teams still have a considerable way to go. Cadillac completed the fewest laps of the groups in Barcelona with only 164 laps, struggling with a mere 66 in one day. Audi performed slightly better, totaling 95 laps on the first two days before finishing strong with 144 laps on the final day, but still faced reliability issues that raised concerns about the Audi engine.
Nico Hulkenberg: Audi F1 is ‘Finding Direction’ Post-Barcelona
Although the testing start was somewhat subdued, it may benefit Audi F1 in the long run. Nico Hulkenberg noted on social media that the team now has a clearer sense of “the direction” to pursue for 2026 after their experiences in Spain. Mattia Binotto, head of the Audi F1 project, candidly assessed the team’s challenges and emphasized the extensive work ahead in preparation for the second test in Bahrain.
Cadillac F1 Set for Second Filming Day Ahead of Bahrain Test
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
Cadillac is scheduled for another filming day tomorrow before the second test in Bahrain, marking one of its early outings of 2026. However, with only 164 laps completed in Barcelona, they lagged significantly behind competitors, including Mercedes, which achieved a total of 500 laps. Teams are permitted two filming days each season, primarily for promotional purposes, and Cadillac’s upcoming session will likely showcase their full F1 2026 livery.
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