Audi R26 Sao Paulo Livery Pays Tribute to City Sidewalks

Key Takeaways

What is the Audi Sao Paulo livery?

The Audi Sao Paulo livery is a one-off special design for the R26, created by title sponsor Revolut as a homage to the Brazilian metropolis. Audi is using it at the Formula 1 race in Sao Paulo.

The team has been in the 2026 field as the former Sauber operation, with Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg as its two drivers. The special look gives the R26 a distinct identity for this single weekend.

The “Piso Paulista” pattern

“Piso Paulista” is the geometric pattern at the centre of the design, inspired by the characteristic way pavements are laid out in Sao Paulo. It runs across the special livery of the Audi.

The idea is to take something everyday and local, the city’s sidewalks, and make it the visual signature of the weekend. The team’s own image shows a dark green car with the pattern in gold and a lighter green along its flank.

Beyond the car: suits, crew and garage

The pattern is not limited to the car: it also appears on the race suits of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg. It is also found on the overalls of the pit crew and in the design of the garage.

The aim, according to the source, is to visually link the team’s products and its presence over the race weekend. Both drivers will wear the specially designed suits at Interlagos.

Revolut, Adidas and a shared design line

The livery continues a shared design line that Audi and its partners began with Revolut’s special “Sao Paulo card”. It also builds on the “Sampa Soul” collection developed together with Adidas.

The special livery is the next chapter of that collaboration. Stefano Battiston, Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of the Audi team, described the thinking behind it.

“Sao Paulo has a distinctive identity, and we wanted that to be reflected in everything we bring to this race.”

Battiston added that the result shows what happens when partners come together, each contributing their own expertise while the whole feels cohesive.

A home race for Bortoleto

Gabriel Bortoleto is the Brazilian driver in Audi’s line-up and races his home Grand Prix at Interlagos this weekend. He competes in front of his own fans, which gives the tribute livery extra meaning.

Alongside team-mate Nico Hülkenberg, he will wear the pattern-covered race suits during the event.

Where fans can see the car

The special Audi R26 livery is on public display at an Adidas store on Rua Oscar Freire in Sao Paulo. The exhibition runs from Thursday to Sunday of the race weekend.

For fans following the sport’s liveries and helmet designs, the Sao Paulo weekend is another example of teams tailoring their look to a host city.

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