The project director of Audi at Fórmula 1, Mattia Binotto, detailed the technical difficulties that the team faces at the start of the 2026 season. Após a promising start with points in the debut, the Gabriel Bortoleto team showed a drop in performance in the following tests. The manager pointed out that flaws in the unprecedented power unit are the main obstacles to the competitiveness of the German team at the moment.
The internal analysis identified that the mechanical assembly suffers from energy efficiency and drivability problems, directly affecting the stability of the single-seater. Binotto explained that the transition between gears and the distribution of electrical load have created insecurity for pilots during braking and acceleration. Diante of the scenario, the calendar break during the month of April was established as the fundamental period to restructure the technical development of the factory.
Technical diagnosis and loss of performance on the track
Detailing the issues reveals that Audi is operating significantly below the potential expected for its official entry into the category. Segundo Mattia Binotto, the sum of configuration flaws and software problems in the power unit result in a considerable loss of time compared to direct opponents. The engineering estimate is that the car is losing around a second per lap due to these pending adjustments.
The Audi power unit, developed under the new Federação Internacional technical regulations of Automobilismo (FIA), has not yet reached the maturity level of traditional competitors. Equipes that use engines supplied by Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz, such as Haas and Alpine, have managed to establish a more linear power delivery base. In the view of the technical command, the complexity of the hybrid system and the imprecise gear ratio make the vehicle unstable on high-speed sections, making it difficult to find limits in the classifications.
Factors that impair the drivability of Bortoleto
- Gear shifting:Engates Sudden injuries that destabilize the rear of the car.
- Energy efficiency:Dificuldade in recovering and distributing the battery charge throughout the lap.
- Gear ratio:Configurações gearboxes that do not extract the ideal torque from the engine.
- Thermal stability:Gerenciamento Power unit heat under racing.
- Control Software:Falhas mappings that affect accelerator pedal response.
The strategic importance of the April break
The dynamics of Fórmula 1’s calendar in the early stages prevented Audi from carrying out deep interventions in the original project. With sequential races and complex international logistics, working time at the headquarters of Neuburg and Hinwil was restricted to basic maintenance and emergency reliability corrections. Binotto highlighted that, during the active competition phase, the team ends up absorbed by the track operation, which interrupts the flow of long-term research and development necessary for a debuting team.
The non-test period in April will act as a window for simulator testing and bench adjustments for the new engine. The goal is to ensure that the car not only stops presenting operating errors, but that it receives aerodynamic and mechanical updates that allow constant evolution. The project leadership understands that this break is the only real opportunity to restructure internal processes before the start of the European leg of the season, where updates tend to be more aggressive on the part of all teams on the grid.
The situation of Gabriel Bortoleto is closely monitored, as the Brazilian depends on the correction of these systems to consistently fight for positions in the scoring zone. The pilot has faced difficulties in maintaining the race pace when the energy recovery system presents oscillations. Binotto reinforced that the entire engineering focus is now on delivering more predictable equipment, allowing the driver’s talent to be the difference on the track, and not a limitation caused by systemic hardware failures.
