The beginning of Audi’s trajectory as a factory team in Fórmula 1 has presented severe obstacles in the mechanical part. Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto openly declared that the engine built by the German manufacturer presents a clear deficit in performance compared to competitors in the category. Final speed problems and constant breakdowns left the team without points in the last three stages of the 2026 world championship.
The Brazilian driver’s technical analysis received direct support from his teammate, German veteran Nico Hulkenberg. Ambos highlight that the project mapped out for this regulatory transition season requires deep and long-term interventions. Embora car chassis demonstrates competitive behavior in qualifying training, thrust deficiencies on the straights prevent the duo from sustaining the ideal pace during race Sundays.
Gabriel Bortoleto details the behavior of the German engine on the tracks
The diagnosis outlined points to a widespread deficiency in the powertrain, affecting both the delivery of the internal combustion engine and the electrical systems. Gabriel Bortoleto explained that the disadvantage forces drivers to adopt a chronic defensive posture during battles for position. The constant need to save energy to try to compensate for delays on the straights undermines the racing strategy.
The data collected by telemetry confirms the adverse scenario faced by the organization on the tracks. Durante the weekend of Grande Prêmio of Miami, the car equipped with the Audi engine recorded one of the worst maximum speed marks at the circuit checkpoint. The vehicle reached the mark of 319 km/h, surpassing only the Cadillac model, which passed through the same location at 318.5 km/h. The performance was considerably below the 334.1 km/h achieved by cars driven by propellants developed by Mercedes.
The difference in speed on the straights eliminates the chances of overtaking against theoretically slower opponents. Segundo Gabriel Bortoleto, public performance sheets indicate that small deficiencies spread across different sectors of the management map result in a massive loss in total lap time. The Brazilian competitor reinforced that the chassis has adequate structural qualities, isolating the propellant as the main bottleneck of the current project.
Nico Hulkenberg points out flaws in handling and advocates patience
Nico Hulkenberg’s experience serves as a basis to ratify the criticisms made by the young Brazilian pilot. The German argued that the car’s handling has represented a severe challenge since the first tests carried out at the start of the calendar. Essa feature requires engineers to work on complex adjustments to try to harmonize the car’s torque delivery, raw power and energy efficiency.
Managing an engine built entirely by the factory itself represents a historic first for the team’s base of operations. Nico Hulkenberg recalled that the structure based at Hinwil operated as a client for other propellant suppliers over the last two decades. The transition to official staff status requires rapid learning of highly complex industrial processes. The German driver highlighted the following points about the current development phase:
- The power deficit of the current engine in relation to competitors is known internally and affects performance in specific racing conditions.
- The lack of quick or easy solutions turns the evolution of the mechanical assembly into a technical process that demands time.
- The integration between all electronic and mechanical components is the key factor for the car to find the ideal balance.
- The technical team needs to focus its efforts on reliability before seeking drastic gains in pure performance on the track.
Quebras and technical punishments mark the last stages of the championship
The lack of reliability of the equipment turned the German team’s last participations into bumpy days. On the Flórida circuit, the sequence of operational setbacks hampered the planning of the two Audi pilots. Nico Hulkenberg faced a fire in its single-seater caused by a fluid leak, in addition to experiencing warnings of overheating of electronic components during the main race.
Gabriel Bortoleto’s weekend on North American soil also ended up being compromised by incidents generated by the machinery. The Brazilian suffered an official disqualification from the sprint race after the technical stewards identified an irregular spike in the system’s air pressure. Posteriormente, the young man from São Paulo had to deal with a chronic brake failure during Sunday’s race, which made any attempt to recover the squad unfeasible.
The history of abandonments and serious failures began to emerge in previous rounds of the Fórmula 1 world championship. Tanto Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg lost the opportunity to start in important Grandes Prêmios this season. The German was stuck in the pits before the start in Austrália, while the Brazilian went through the same situation in China, always due to a failure in the engine’s peripheral systems. Correcting these manufacturing defects became the engineering department’s priority goal for the remainder of the year.