(Motorsport-Total.com) – With starting positions twelve and 13, Audi fell short of its own expectations in the sprint qualifying for the British Grand Prix. Gabriel Bortoleto missed the cut for SQ3 as twelfth, teammate Nico Hülkenberg finished just behind in 13th place.
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While the two Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad made it into the top ten, Audi was about three tenths of a second short in the end. But according to Bortoleto, this exact gap does not reflect the true balance of power.
The Brazilian is convinced that Racing Bulls were once again ahead, but the difference was smaller than the raw result suggests. “In hindsight, it’s of course easy to say,” explains Bortoleto. “Maybe we should have used the set of tires for one lap only at the very end of the session. Then we might have been a bit closer.”
“They are ahead – but not by three tenths”
Above all, the difference on the timing sheet is misleading according to the Audi driver. While he also acknowledges that Racing Bulls is currently the stronger team this weekend, he does not see the gap of about three tenths as representative.
“I don’t think we are that far from the Racing Bulls,” emphasizes Bortoleto. “Three tenths – I think we are closer. I do believe they are a bit ahead of us again this weekend. But not by three tenths.”
The telemetry data shows that Audi lost most of the time not in the fast corners of Silverstone, but mainly on the straights. In the technically demanding sections, Audi largely kept up with the Racing Bulls before valuable time was lost on the full-throttle sections. With better tire usage, more could probably have been made up in the corners.
Hope for progress over the weekend
For Bortoleto, nothing is lost yet. After all, the sprint qualifying was only the second session of the weekend, so there is still plenty of potential. “I hope that we can be in the fight,” he says. “That’s exactly what we are working towards.”
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Nico Hülkenberg also felt after his 13th place that there was clearly more in the car. He was basically satisfied with his decisive lap. “The lap was clean,” Hülkenberg states clearly. “There was actually nothing special.”
However, the conditions changed noticeably compared to the first practice. “In the sprint qualifying it was significantly windier and gustier than this morning. I think that cost us some performance compared to the others.”
In addition, Audi chose a different tire strategy sequence than some competitors. “Our run sequence was a bit different. We have to look at that first now.”
Analysis before qualifying and sprint
Where Racing Bulls ultimately gained the decisive advantage, Hülkenberg could not yet answer immediately after qualifying. “I haven’t seen the data yet,” he explains. “In the first sector we were relatively far off. But that is typical here because of the wind. The track is very open there with corners three and four, especially in the slow sections.”
Only after detailed analysis does he want to make a final judgment. “We just have to evaluate everything now, process everything. Tomorrow the sprint race comes first, then with the normal qualifying practically a new chapter begins. Then we want to bring the best possible package to the track.”
Read more Formula 1 Live Ticker: The Sprint Qualifying in Silverstone