Gabriel Bortoleto details Audi’s challenges in Formula 1 starts

One of the biggest obstacles faced by the Audi team in its debut season in Formula 1 has been its performance at the start, which led to demonstrations by Gabriel Bortoleto in June. On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the Brazilian driver gave an interview to the podcast Na Ponta dos Dedos, where he explained the reasons why the German team was having difficulties. He highlighted that, even with a perfect start from the driver’s point of view, the car cannot compete on equal terms with other teams.

In his words, Bortoleto highlighted that an impeccable start to the race by Audi still translates into a start considered only average when compared to direct competitors, such as the Alpine and Racing Bulls teams. The loss of positions at the start of the race is a critical factor, which compromises overall performance and the chance of gaining championship points.

German team’s problem with turbocharger affects the start of races

Although the Brazilian driver’s main focus is on the Hungarian Grand Prix, Bortoleto believes in the possibility of scoring once again this season. The core of Audi’s problem lies in the turbocharger, which is larger in the team’s cars compared to those from other suppliers, such as Ferrari and Mercedes, negatively impacting the start procedure of the fledgling team.

Bortoleto highlighted that Formula 1 has implemented changes to make the starting process less automated, transferring more responsibilities to the drivers. However, the Brazilian argues that Audi’s issue is linked to the team’s technical limitations when releasing the clutch and managing engine speed.

He noted that competitors like Ferrari and Mercedes are able to decelerate the engine more aggressively before the start. When revving up, the size of these teams’ turbo allows for superior acceleration, while Audi faces restrictions that prevent this same flexibility.

The driver explained that the Audi car has a limit for reducing engine speed during the start, under the risk of the engine going out. Consequently, the engine noise does not demonstrate a significant drop in rpm when releasing the clutch, as the team is unable to achieve lower rpm levels at the moment. Thus, they need to manage the current situation as going down beyond the limit would result in the engine stopping completely.

Despite the team’s efforts to find solutions and reduce difficulties in recent races, Bortoleto has accumulated a loss of 17 positions this season, including sprint races. The Brazilian does not believe that Audi will be able to resolve this issue in 2026, mainly due to the spending cap imposed by the category, which limits investments in development.

The driver stated that this is a limitation that the team has been working to overcome, seeking a definitive solution. He acknowledged that it is a lengthy engine development process, which will probably not be completed this year. The team needs to be patient, making the most of the current procedure, while planning major future developments to become one of the best in starting, an objective that demands time, investment and other factors.

Gabriel Bortoleto will be back on the track this Sunday, July 26, 2026, for the Hungarian Grand Prix, the last race before Formula 1’s European summer break. The driver expresses confidence in winning points for the third consecutive time. The race will start at 10 am (Brasília time) and will be broadcast live on television channels.