TECH TALK: Delving into Audi's surprising new sidepods

F1 technical expert Sam Collins gives his take on Audi's new-look sidepods that appeared in the first pre-season test.

Feb 11, 2026 8:22pm UTC

Formula 1’s 2026 cars hit the track together on the opening day of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, meaning plenty for technical minds up and down the pit lane to get stuck into…

One of those was our resident tech expert, F1 TV’s Sam Collins, who took a moment during the afternoon session to walk down the pit lane and delve into some interesting technical innovations amid the new regulations.

One of the key subjects that caught the eye were Audi's surprising new sidepods that made a first appearance on day one.

Watch Tech Talk by hitting go on the video player above.

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