Audi × Revolut : Deal Timeline

How a title sponsorship became a multi-layered Formula One partnership

When Audi confirmed its Formula One entry, it was preparing to introduce a new factory team under the Audi name while building on the foundations of Sauber. The team had yet to contest a race as Audi; its commercial identity was still taking shape, and many of the partnerships that would define the project were still to be announced. One of the earliest and most significant arrived in July 2025, when Revolut was unveiled as the team's title partner ahead of its debut season.

Their dedicated website: https://www.audif1.com/en

That made the choice of title partner particularly significant.

In July 2025, Audi announced Revolut as the title partner for its Formula One entry from the 2026 season. It was one of the earliest commercial pillars of Audi's works programme and one that would continue to evolve over the following eight months. What began as a naming-rights announcement gradually expanded into product launches, operational integrations and fan-facing experiences before the lights went out in Melbourne.

This section follows that progression chronologically, tracing each public milestone that shaped the partnership >>

TIMELINE

July 2025 - The Partnership Begins

This is where the story starts.

Audi confirmed a multi-year agreement naming Revolut as the title partner for its Formula One programme ahead of the manufacturer's first season in the championship. The announcement introduced the partnership as more than a branding exercise, with both companies outlining plans to combine Revolut's financial products with Audi's global motorsport platform.

For Audi, the agreement secured a fintech partner before the team had contested a single race. For Revolut, it created a presence at the centre of one of Formula One's most anticipated manufacturer entries.

What changed?

• Revolut became Audi's title partner.

• Both companies announced plans for commercial and product integration.

• The partnership entered the public domain.

December 2025: The Team Gets Its Name

Five months after the original announcement, the partnership gained its public identity.

Audi officially introduced the Audi Revolut F1 Team, unveiling the team's logo and confirming that Berlin would host its launch event in January. The announcement gave the partnership a visible presence that would appear across the team's branding, communications and Formula One paddock.

This marked the transition from an agreement between two companies to a brand that fans would begin to recognise throughout the 2026 season.

What changed

• Official team name announced.

• Logo revealed.

• Berlin launch confirmed.

January 2026: Launch Day

Berlin became the first public showcase of the new Formula One project.

Audi revealed the R26 race car, unveiled its 2026 livery and introduced drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. After months of announcements, renderings and speculation, this was the first complete presentation of the team that would represent Audi on the Formula One grid.

The event also demonstrated how prominently Revolut featured within the team's visual identity. The branding introduced in December moved onto the race car, teamwear and launch stage, offering the first full picture of the title partnership in practice.

What changed

• Team launch completed.

• R26 unveiled.

• Drivers presented.

• Full branding shown publicly.

Early March 2026: The First Consumer Product

The next milestone arrived away from the racetrack.

Revolut introduced the Official Audi Revolut F1 Team Card, a titanium payment card created for eligible Metal and Ultra customers. Cardholders also gained access to experiences linked to the Formula One team, extending the partnership beyond race weekends into a product customers could use every day.

Unlike the earlier announcements, this launch placed the collaboration directly in consumers' hands. The partnership had moved beyond identity and into a tangible financial product.

What changed

• Co-branded titanium card launched.

• Premium customer benefits introduced.

• First fan-facing financial product released.

March 2026: Race Weekend

The final milestone in this opening chapter came at the Australian Grand Prix.

The Audi Revolut F1 Team officially joined the Formula One grid, completing the journey from announcement to competition in less than a year. From this point onward, the partnership shifted into its operational phase as Revolut's products became part of the team's day-to-day activities throughout the championship calendar.

The story after Melbourne becomes less about announcements and more about execution, which is where the second half of this deep dive begins >>

Between July 2025 and the opening race of the 2026 season, the partnership evolved through a series of public milestones that gradually shaped the Audi Revolut F1 Team. Each announcement added another layer, from naming rights and team identity to product launches and race operations.

With the chronology complete, the next section examines each element of the partnership individually to understand how Revolut fits into the team's commercial and operational ecosystem.