Audi’s finest and worst moments from 2026 thus far and driver head-to-heads

Audi got here into the 2026 F1 season as a works crew for the primary time – having taken over the previous Sauber squad – and, with a gradual driver line-up of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, hopes of success have been excessive. The yr began sturdy with factors within the opener in Australia, however the crew then went six races with out including to their tally. Additionally they suffered upheaval when Group Principal Jonathan Wheatley departed.

Nevertheless, upgrades for races earlier than the summer time break noticed them end within the prime 10 in Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps and on the Hungaroring – leaving them eighth within the Constructors’ Championship with 12 factors. Right here’s the lowdown on their 2026 thus far…

Greatest end

Bortoleto – P8 in Britain and Belgium

Followers could have anticipated Nico Hulkenberg to have introduced dwelling the majority of Audi‘s factors in 2026 – given the German’s sturdy displaying with 51 factors in 2025 – however it’s truly crew mate Gabriel Bortoleto who’s chargeable for 10 of the 12 on the board. Not solely did he rating in Audi’s debut race in Melbourne, he completed P8 at each Silverstone and Spa.

Out of these two races, Belgium was a very sturdy displaying for the Brazilian. He had a powerful qualifying efficiency by making it into Q3, managed tyre degradation successfully on Spa’s excessive pace sectors and took dwelling factors for the second race in a row.

Bortoleto additionally did it in entrance of 500 Audi F1 workers who got here to observe in Spa – one thing he was particularly happy about when talking after the race. The Belgian Grand Prix additionally marked 4 years since Audi first revealed their intentions to enter F1, making his P8 a reminder of the progress they’ve made since then.

Qualifying head-to-head

Hulkenberg 6-5 Bortoleto

The statistics are pretty evenly cut up at Audi. Hulkenberg holds the benefit within the Qualifying head-to-head, although that’s solely by six to 5 in opposition to Bortoleto.

The crew has efficiently reached Q3 5 instances of their debut 11 rounds with their finest Qualifying end result the Brazilian’s eight place on the grid in Belgium.

Race head-to-head

Hulkenberg 4-7 Bortoleto

The 21-year-old is main within the Grand Prix head-to-head stats, ending forward of his veteran crew mate at seven out of 11 thus far, however Hulkenberg has had greater than his fair proportion of unhealthy luck within the reliability stakes.

The German has suffered three DNFs and a DNS in Australia, whereas Bortoleto crossed the road at each race bar China the place he failed to begin. And let’s not overlook Hulkenberg’s freak second involving a chunk of gravel and his automobile’s kill change… sure that can function later.

May the tide be turning although? On the final race in Hungary earlier than the summer time break, Hulkenberg got here out on prime within the inter-team battle each in Qualifying and within the race – ending two locations forward of Bortoleto in P9.

Greatest second

After scoring factors on Audi’s debut F1 race in Australia, the crew then went on a run of eight races with out including to their tally. However bringing again 10 factors within the final three Grands Prix, leaving them eighth within the Groups’ Championship earlier than the summer time shutdown, appears to point the beginning of an upwards trajectory.

Bortoleto’s double factors end in Silverstone and Spa off the again of upgrades gave the crew an actual increase, and it was rapidly adopted by Hulkenberg lastly scoring factors after a run of reliability points, unhealthy luck and common finishes simply exterior the highest 10.

Talking after Hungary and his P9, Hulkenberg mentioned the factors had been a very long time coming for him.

“There have been many events and alternatives this yr the place it ought to’ve occurred nevertheless it didn’t for varied causes, in order that was annoying however that’s racing typically for you,” he mentioned.”I and the crew knew it’s there – it was only a matter of time and placing it collectively. Lastly, the piece fell into place.”

Worst second

There’s not a lot debate on this one after Hulkenberg was the sufferer of probably one of many strangest examples of unhealthy luck ever seen in F1. In Barcelona, while combating for P9, the German got here to a sudden cease after a chunk of gravel kicked up by the Racing Bull of Liam Lawson had hit the Audi’s kill change – instantly reducing out all of the electrics.

He managed to make it again to the pits however his mechanics have been unable to restart the automobile.

“It was a really irritating finish to what had been an excellent weekend for us as a crew,” defined Audi Racing Director Allan McNish.

“Nico’s automobile shut down after Lawson ran extensive and kicked up gravel, which struck the protection hearth change. That triggered an computerized security operate designed to close the automobile down in an emergency state of affairs.”

Going ahead

2026 was at all times going to be a yr for Audi to construct on the foundations of the earlier Sauber crew, alongside changing into a works outfit for the primary time with their very own energy unit. Midway by means of the season and the undertaking appears to be like to be on observe. Sure, they’d that run with out factors, however the three consecutive hauls earlier than the break does present progress.

The partnership between Hulkenberg and Bortoleto additionally stays sturdy – the mix of the veteran and the younger expertise appears to be working properly nonetheless and with that P9 for the German in Hungary, it isn’t only one driver bringing dwelling the factors now.

Chatting with the Audi F1 web site after Budapest, McNish was feeling optimistic about how the second half of the season would unfold. “We head into the summer time break with optimistic momentum and beneficial classes from the primary a part of the season,” he mentioned. “We’ll use this era to recharge, preserve constructing on our foundations and are available again able to proceed our growth within the second half of the yr.”

Head of Audi’s F1 undertaking Mattia Binotto has categorised 2026 and 2027 as foundational development years, particularly as they’re new engine producers coming in throughout one of many greatest regulation adjustments the game has seen for some time. But it surely looks like positivity within the crew is rising in the direction of their final aim of profitable a world championship by 2030.