When Audi Revolut F1 Team completes its entry onto the Formula 1 grid in 2026, its commercial roster will feature a distinct touch of Bavarian tradition alongside high-tech hybrid engineering. The team has secured a long-term partnership designating Munich-based Paulaner Brewery as an official supplier. Centered on Paulaner 0.0%—the brewery's non-alcoholic wheat beer—the alliance targets the evolving crossover between sports marketing, global fan engagement, and responsible consumption.
Munich Brewing Legacy Joins Audi's Global Grid Campaign
Founded in Munich in 1634, Paulaner currently exports to more than 70 countries, operating under its long-standing principle Gut, besser, Paulaner
(Good, better, Paulaner
). The partnership positions Paulaner 0.0% as the focal product for trackside and digital activations, giving the brand a platform across Formula 1's worldwide audience while aligning with corporate emphasis on health and responsibility.
For Audi Revolut F1 Team, commercial integration forms an essential pillar of its works assembly ahead of the 2026 technical reset. Stefano Battiston, Chief Commercial Officer of the future Audi F1 Team, highlighted the shared values driving the arrangement.
blockquote>Paulaner and the future Audi F1 Team share a winning mindset rooted in performance, passion and pride in our heritage. Both brands stand for craftsmanship, authenticity and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Together, we will create experiences that bring fans closer to the team and celebrate every success on and off the track with a Paulaner 0.0% in hand on a global scale.
Jörg Biebernick, CEO of the Paulaner Brewery Group, emphasized the opportunity to bring Munich beer culture to a fresh international demographic across the Grand Prix calendar.
blockquote>We are very proud to partner with the future Audi F1 Team and excited to open a new chapter on an international stage. This cooperation underscores our long-term commitment to combining pleasure, quality, and responsibility in professional sports. We look forward to bringing our plans to life and introducing Paulaner to a new generation of motorsport fans.
A European Footprint Across Hinwil, Neuburg, and Bicester
The commercial agreement arrives while Audi builds out a three-pronged operational structure across Europe. Following its acquisition of Switzerland's Sauber Group—a team with Formula 1 roots stretching back to 1992—Audi designated the Hinwil facility as its base for chassis design, aerodynamic development, and race operations.
| Hub Location | Primary Operational Focus | Key Leadership |
|---|---|---|
| Hinwil, Switzerland | Chassis Development, Aerodynamics & Race Operations | James Key (Technical Director) |
| Neuburg an der Donau, Germany | Power Unit Development (Audi Formula Racing GmbH) | Mattias Binotto (CEO & Team Principal) |
| Bicester, United Kingdom | Audi Motorsport Technology Centre UK / Talent Access | Mattias Binotto (CEO & Team Principal) |
Overall organizational authority rests with Mattias Binotto, who serves as CEO and Team Principal overseeing operations across Hinwil, Neuburg, and Bicester. Technical operations in Switzerland are led by Technical Director James Key, while former Audi factory driver and Le Mans winner Allan McNish serves as Racing Director, supervising strategy, race operations, and driver management.
The hybrid power unit is being engineered at Audi Formula Racing GmbH in Neuburg an der Donau to comply with the FIA's 2026 engine regulations, which incorporate sustainable fuels and elevate the electric power share to almost 50 percent of the total output. The broader corporate foundation rests on an Audi Group that delivered 1.7 million Audi vehicles, 10,643 Bentley vehicles, 10,687 Lamborghini vehicles, and 54,495 Ducati motorcycles in 2024, generating €64.5 billion in total revenue and €3.9 billion in operating profit.
Driver Lineup Pairs Veteran Experience with Junior Precedent
Audi Revolut F1 Team's driver pairing merges extensive Grand Prix experience with elite junior credentials. German veteran Nico Hulkenberg brings over 250 Grand Prix starts to the project. Hulkenberg, who won the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours and secured his first Formula 1 podium by placing third at the July 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, reflected on the move:
blockquote>Audi’s entry into the pinnacle of motorsport is a real statement. For me, as a German, representing such a major brand with a unique motorsport history is also something very special,
Partnering Hulkenberg is Brazilian prospect Gabriel Bortoleto, who entered his first full Formula 1 campaign in 2025 after making junior history. Bortoleto claimed both the FIA Formula 3 and FIA Formula 2 titles in consecutive rookie seasons—a feat accomplished by only three other drivers before him. Bortoleto noted the personal symbolism of joining Audi:
blockquote>Being part of Audi feels like a dream come true for me. My big idol is Ayrton Senna. And it was Ayrton Senna who brought Audi to Brazil. When the Audi F1® Project started and I was given the chance to be part of it, it was like a gift for me.
Commercial Activation and the 2026 Calendar
The Paulaner partnership integrates into a commercial footprint that also includes team merchandise collaborations with adidas—featuring footwear models such as the Feroza, Campus 00s, and Superstar II—alongside official hospitality offerings. Paddock Club ticket packages will provide suite access above team garages, guided technical insight, pit stop practice viewing, and driver Q&A sessions at select Grand Prix weekends.
With a 24-race calendar spanning five continents—featuring established street venues in Monte Carlo and Las Vegas as well as the addition of Madrid—Audi Revolut F1 Team enters the sport with a structured organizational, technical, and commercial framework built for Formula 1's modern era.
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- audi.com original
- presseportal.de original
- store.audif1.com original
- f1experiences.com original
