News Summary
- Audi has unveiled a green and yellow livery for Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg at the São Paulo Grand Prix.
- The Revolut-designed livery draws on the Piso Paulista, a paving pattern based on the outline of São Paulo state.
- Bortoleto returns for his second F1 home weekend and will also wear a helmet marking 35 years since Ayrton Senna’s 1991 Interlagos victory.
Audi will race in green and yellow at Interlagos after unveiling a special livery on Wednesday for Gabriel Bortoleto’s home Grand Prix. Both Audi R26s will carry the design at the São Paulo Grand Prix, the first visit to the circuit for the German manufacturer’s works team in its debut Formula 1 season.
Title partner Revolut designed the livery around the Piso Paulista, the geometric pavement pattern found on São Paulo’s sidewalks. The motif incorporates the outline of São Paulo state, which appears in smaller shapes across the car. Green dominates the design, with yellow accents picking up the other colour most closely associated with Brazil’s flag.
From São Paulo’s sidewalks to the Audi garage
The paving design dates to the 1960s and was created by Brazilian designer Mirtes Bernardes. Its repeated shapes gave Audi and its partners a reference that could work at different scales, from the bodywork to the drivers’ suits. Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg will wear matching race suits, while Audi will carry the same motif onto its pit crew uniforms and garage branding.
“São Paulo has an unmistakable identity, and we wanted that to run through everything we bring to this race,” said Stefano Battiston, Audi’s chief brand and commercial officer.
The R26 is the latest part of a project that Audi introduced in October with Adidas’s Sampa Soul clothing collection and a São Paulo-themed Revolut card. It is Audi’s third special livery of 2026, following one-off designs in Monaco and Singapore.
Bortoleto brings a separate Senna tribute to Interlagos
Bortoleto has also prepared a helmet marking 35 years since Ayrton Senna’s 1991 victory at Interlagos. The design depicts Senna on the podium after winning his home race despite having only sixth gear available in the closing laps. It also references Bortoleto’s 2024 Formula 2 title and draws on Brazilian cordel art.
“Last year was my first experience of driving in front of my home crowd, and the support I received was incredible,” Bortoleto said in Audi’s race preview.
The Brazilian’s first F1 weekend at Interlagos ended with retirements in both the sprint and the Grand Prix. He returns after finishing eighth in Mexico City, a result that took him to 14 points for the season. Hülkenberg has 13, leaving Audi eighth in the Constructors’ Championship on 27 points, four short of seventh.
The livery will be seen on track in Friday’s opening practice. Bortoleto will drive alongside Freddie Slater, who is taking Hülkenberg’s car for FP1. Hülkenberg is due back for the second session. The Interlagos weekend timetable includes three practice sessions before qualifying and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is covering every session of the São Paulo Grand Prix live from Interlagos. Follow our on-site coverage in Formula 1.
