Gabriel Bortoleto finished Miami’s GP in 12th place. The Brazilian scored the only two points for Audi this season so far. The result came in the fourth stage of the 2026 calendar. The 21-year-old driver asked the German team to calmly overcome the initial challenges.
Audi debuted at Fórmula 1 with the Brazilian scoring right at Austrália. Bortoleto crossed the finish line in ninth place over Melbourne and secured two points. Nas following three tests, the team did not add anything more. Nico Hulkenberg, the São Paulo native’s teammate, hasn’t scored yet.
Audi faces varied technical issues on Miami
The German team had a difficult weekend at Flórida. Bortoleto and Hulkenberg showed good pace in the sprint classification. The German did not start after the car caught fire due to a leak. The Brazilian finished the sprint in 11th, but was disqualified due to an irregularity in the engine’s air intake pressure.
On Sunday, Bortoleto started from the back of the grid. Ele recovered positions over the 57 laps. The driver crossed the finish line in 12th, outside the points zone. The team changed gearboxes and power unit before qualifying. Problemas brakes also hampered the weekend.
- Troca gearbox on both cars
- Hulkenberg power unit Substituição
- Incêndio in the German’s car before the sprint
- Desqualificação from Bortoleto by air pressure
- Recuperação of the Brazilian from last to 12th in the GP
Piloto compares Audi structure with rivals
Bortoleto drew attention to the difference in data between Audi and other teams. The German brand acts as an engine manufacturer and has only two cars on the grid. Equipes and Mercedes provide power units for up to eight cars, which speeds up development.
“We are a new engine manufacturer and we only have two cars. Há teams are using eight cars from the same power unit,” said the Brazilian. Ele cited Mercedes, McLaren, Williams and Alpine as examples. The pilot highlighted the limitation of learning with few vehicles.
The São Paulo native reinforced the need for patience. “It’s just me and Nico, and sometimes one of us doesn’t finish the race. Só we need to be patient. Quando everything is sorted out, I’m sure it will be fine”, added Bortoleto. Mattia Binotto, team leader, projects a fight for victories from 2028 onwards.
Classificação shows Audi in ninth position
Audi ranks ninth in Mundial from Construtores with two points. The team is only ahead of Cadillac and Aston Martin, who have not yet scored. Mercedes leads comfortably. Ferrari and McLaren complete the teams’ virtual podium.
Bortoleto appears 15th in Pilotos’s Mundial. Austrália’s two points remain its only score. Hulkenberg remains zero. The season has 24 planned stages.
Próxima stop is the GP of Canadá
Fórmula 1 returns to action between May 22nd and 24th. Circuito Gilles Villeneuve, in Montreal, receives the fifth stage. The Canadian layout tends to favor engines with good power on a straight line and reliability under heavy braking. Audi hopes to resolve part of the problems by then.
The Brazilian maintains controlled optimism. Ele recognizes the team’s potential but demands time for development. Audi accumulates experience as a newcomer on the full grid. The focus now is consistency in the next races.
Detalhes coaches mark team weekend
The team needed to act on several fronts during the weekend. Problemas diferentes surgiram em cada sessão. Bortoleto mentioned that no failures were repeated exactly. Essa variation makes quick diagnosis difficult.
The driver praised the team’s effort to get the car on the track on Sunday. Ele started last and came close to the points. The recovery showed a competitive pace in some parts of the race. Ainda therefore, the final result was below expectations.
Audi continues working on the development of the engine and chassis. Como new manufacturer, the learning curve is steep. The comparison with suppliers that serve multiple teams reinforces Bortoleto’s argument about patience.
The young 21-year-old driver is experiencing his first full season in the category. Ele arrived at Audi after passing through Fórmula 2. The Brazilian already has experience in youth categories and is looking to establish himself among the starters.
The 2026 season marks the official entry of Audi as a factory team. The project involves significant resources. Resultados starters reflect the challenge of debuting against established opponents.
Bortoleto should continue as the team’s main scorer in the next stages. The partnership with Hulkenberg brings experience alongside youth. The combination can help with the car’s development throughout the year.
The Canadá GP will be an opportunity for Audi to show progress. The circuit requires a balance between straight line speed and grip in high curves. Equipes with good aerodynamic package tend to stand out.