« I’ve Never Seen Such a Long List »: Audi’s Colossal To-Do List After F1 Barcelona Shakedown
Mattia Binotto admits the scale of work facing Audi’s debut season is unprecedented in his career as technical issues plague Barcelona test
The scale of the challenge facing Audi’s Formula 1 debut has been laid bare by project chief Mattia Binotto, who confessed to facing a fix-list longer than any he has encountered in his extensive motorsport career .
Following the team’s first official test at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, the former Ferrari team principal delivered a sobering assessment of the work required to prepare the R26 for its competitive debut in Melbourne this March.
A « Very, Very Long List »
« It’s a lot of work, » Binotto told F1 TV at the conclusion of the five-day shakedown. « It’s a lot of work for the entire team, it’s a lot of work for the drivers, for the engineers back at home — fixing all the problems, design, operationals, whatever we have seen » .
The Italian’s candor cut through the usual pre-season optimism: « So it’s really for us, no stones unturned: all the details need to be somehow managed and need to be fixed. So we’ve got a very long list, very, very long list. I’ve never seen such a long list » .
Testing Troubles
Audi’s Barcelona week — held behind closed doors from January 26-30 — began inauspiciously. A suspected gearbox failure restricted rookie Gabriel Bortoleto to just 27 laps on the opening day, while Nico Hülkenberg suffered a hydraulics issue that halted his Wednesday session after only five laps .
The German manufacturer, taking over the Sauber entry for 2026, completed just 240 laps across its three allotted test days — significantly fewer than established rivals. Mercedes topped the mileage charts with 1,132 laps, while Ferrari managed 989. Audi’s total placed them eighth among the ten participating teams, ahead of only Cadillac and a severely disrupted Aston Martin .
The Recovery
Despite the rocky start, Audi demonstrated resilience. Friday’s running saw the team complete 148 laps — more than 60% of their entire week’s output — as both drivers finally enjoyed uninterrupted track time .
Hülkenberg, the veteran of 250 Grands Prix, labeled it « our best day here this week, » adding: « More than 140 laps, some good mileage for the car and for all the components, and on the PU side, it’s important for us to get that sort of mileage » .
New Era, New Challenges
The 2026 regulations represent arguably the most significant technical overhaul in modern F1 history. Cars are 32kg lighter with substantially reduced downforce, while power units feature increased electrical energy deployment and greater fuel efficiency .
As a new power unit manufacturer integrating a completely fresh engine with a restructured chassis operation, Audi faced an inherently steep learning curve. The team conducted an initial 50km filming day shakedown earlier in January, but the Barcelona test marked their first meaningful running .
Bahrain Looms
With two official pre-season tests scheduled for Bahrain (February 11-13 and 18-20) before the Melbourne opener on March 6-8, time is compressing rapidly.
Binotto remains characteristically methodical about the path forward. « The reliability is always very critical, » he acknowledged. « We had several problems — small ones, not dramatic — and I think here again there is a lot of positives and looking forward » .
The 56-year-old engineer, who oversaw Ferrari’s 2019-2022 campaigns, views the challenge through the lens of organizational growth rather than immediate performance.
« It’s great because the team is really committed, willing to improve and somehow to come to Bahrain in a better shape, » he insisted. « We know that there is a lot for us to build, a lot to grow. These three days of running have been very important. I think we are doing well for where we are in our journey » .
The Solo Burden
Unlike Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull Powertrains — which benefit from multiple customer teams multiplying their data collection — Audi runs alone. This isolation compounds their mileage deficit; while Mercedes engines accumulated 5,271km across the week, Audi’s single entry managed just 1,117km .
For a new manufacturer decoding complex power unit behavior, every lost lap represents delayed understanding. Yet Binotto’s « long list » comment suggests the issues extend beyond mere teething troubles into fundamental design and operational refinements.
As F1’s newest constructor prepares for the Bahrain heat, the motorsport world watches to see whether Audi’s « emotional » first test translates into rapid progress — or whether that unprecedented to-do list will define their debut season.
Sources
- Motorsport.com: « Why Audi has a ‘very, very long’ to-do list after F1 Barcelona shakedown » (February 8, 2026)
- The Race: « Audi’s ‘very, very long list’ of problems to solve after F1 test » (February 2, 2026)
- PlanetF1: « Audi F1 sets R26 direction after shakedown revealed ‘very long list' » (February 6, 2026)
- Yahoo Sports: « Why Audi has a ‘very, very long’ to-do list after F1 Barcelona shakedown » (February 8, 2026)
- Motorsport Week: « Audi makes crucial confession with ‘very long’ list ahead of F1 debut » (February 3, 2026)
- RacingNews365: « Audi wary of ‘critical’ car element after Barcelona issues » (February 3, 2026)
- GPBlog: « New PU manufacturer names ‘long list of fixes’ on hand after first pre-season test » (February 5, 2026)