Albert algebras and construction of the finite simple groups $F_4(q)$, $E_6(q)$ and ${}^2E_6(q)$ and their generic covers

Abstract: We give a uniform construction of the finite simple groups $E_6(q)$, $F_4(q)$ and ${}^2E_6(q)$, which does not require any special treatment for characteristics 2 or 3, and in particular avoids any mention of quadratic Jordan algebras. Although almost all the ingredients can already be found scattered through research papers spanning more than a century, a coherent, sef-contained, account is hard to find in the literature.