Audi's F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix was marked by a top 10 start, with both drivers finishing within the top 12. The German team has undergone significant changes since its purchase by Audi three seasons ago, and the restructuring process was not without its challenges. Over the past 16 seasons, Sauber used customer Ferrari engines and gearboxes, but Audi had to create its own power unit from scratch at its Neuberg facility.
The challenge of building a transmission and getting it all to gel with the chassis was enormous. Honda's struggles under the 2026 rules have shown just how difficult it can be for an established F1 manufacturer to get it right. However, Audi has looked fairly solid in the midfield from the start of winter testing, suggesting that its efforts may pay off.
Audi team boss Mattia Binotto acknowledged that the power unit is still lacking power, but there was also a cautious approach to how it was run in testing. The Australian GP qualifying session was always going to be the litmus test, and Bortoleto showed promise by taking P10 in Q1 and repeating that in Q2.
However, disaster struck when Brazilian driver Bortoleto had a drive issue on his second lap, leaving him coasting to the pit lane and unable to complete Q3. He was forced to settle for 10th on the grid, while teammate Nico Hulkenberg backed him up in 11th.
Bortoleto's disappointment was palpable as he admitted that he had spent half a lap trying to engage gears, with his car experiencing its first reliability issue of the weekend. Despite this, he expressed pride in the team's efforts and acknowledged that there is still much work to be done.
Hulkenberg also had an eventful session, fighting multiple fires in his car during Q1 before managing a single clean lap in Q2. He praised the team for their positive performance, saying that they were 'not in a bad spot' and 'obviously competitive within the midfield'.
The impressive performance by Audi was all the more remarkable given that its F1 power unit hadn't run on track until January. The team's technical director, James Key, acknowledged that there is still work to be done but praised the Neuberg facility for its progress over winter testing.
Key noted that the team had progressed from no track data to a position where they could run reliably, and he expressed his gratitude to the team for their efforts. The finish with at least one car on Sunday would be a decent achievement, and points would be even better.
Audi's top 10 start is a significant milestone in its F1 journey, and it will be interesting to see how they perform over the coming races. With both drivers finishing within the top 12, Audi has shown that it has the potential to compete with the midfield pack.
The team's cautious approach to testing and qualifying suggests that they are taking a measured approach to their debut season. However, the results so far suggest that this strategy may be paying off, and Audi fans will be eagerly awaiting their next move.
