(Motorsport-Total.com) – The four-week Formula 1 summer break ends this weekend with the Dutch Grand Prix (all sessions in the live ticker!). Can Audi continue their good results there, after Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto scored points three times in a row before the break?
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“Hopefully we can pick up where we left off in Budapest and have another strong weekend,” says Hülkenberg, who is looking forward to the race on the Dutch North Sea coast. “Zandvoort has always been a special race for me.”
“I grew up just on the other side of the border and started my motorsport career in the Netherlands, so I have always had a real connection to the country and its people,” recalls the Emmerich native.
“It is a classic old-school track, and the Dutch fans always create an incredible atmosphere,” says Hülkenberg. “Knowing that this will be the last Dutch Grand Prix for the foreseeable future makes it even more special.”
McNish believes: “Right in the fight for the points”
Audi team principal Allan McNish remains cautious with precise predictions. “The break gave everyone the chance to recharge before a crucial second half of the season begins,” warns the Scot that the balance of power may have shifted over the summer break.
“We know there is still a lot of work ahead, but we are encouraged by the direction we took before the break, and the goal now is to build on that for the rest of the season.” Can the Ingolstadt team still score World Championship points for the fourth time in a row in Zandvoort?
“We know the fight for points is still tight, but we are confident that we can be right in the mix in Zandvoort and beyond,” says McNish. Since the British Grand Prix, the brand with the four rings has apparently found its stride.
And according to the former Formula 1 driver, there is even an explanation for this: “Firstly, we have understood how to better extract performance from the car,” says the Scot. “And secondly, the drivers have gained confidence, and the team has also gained confidence.”
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“And then we were able to capitalize on situations that arose,” McNish said after the Hungarian Grand Prix, shortly before the summer break. “What is quite clear is that we are fighting directly against Racing Bulls.”
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“I think we have a very similar pace. It just depends on whether they are a bit ahead or we are a bit ahead,” believes the Audi official. “I think in qualifying they have a slight advantage. In the race, we have an advantage, but we are behind them.”
Overall, Audi has made significant progress recently. “We had the upgrade in Austria, and that helped us a lot, especially in the slow corners where we were a bit weaker,” recalls McNish. “We also adapted and were able to improve drivability.”
“It’s also about cornering again here,” the former Formula 1 driver gives insight into the recent progress. “You have to find out what suits the car, what the driver likes. And we have developed a bit further there.”
Bortoleto: “Learned more about the car with every race”
“We have learned more about the car with every race and have released more and more of its potential, and it is important that we carry that into the second half of the season,” confirms Gabriel Bortoleto, who finished eighth in Silverstone and Spa.
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The Brazilian would like to continue that on the Dutch North Sea coast. “Zandvoort is always a good challenge, and sprint weekends make things a bit more intense from the start – but that’s exactly how we like it.”
As a provisional conclusion to the Formula 1 era, there will be another sprint on Saturday in the Netherlands (the full schedule). However, this hardly bothers Bortoleto. “The first half of the season ended with an encouraging result, and now the goal is to continue where we left off,” says the Brazilian.
And teammate Nico Hülkenberg is also looking confidently ahead to the upcoming races. “In recent weeks, everyone had the chance to recharge,” says the German, “and now the focus is fully on the second half of the season.”
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