(Motorsport-Total.com) – Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto are satisfied with the Formula 1 summer break 2026. After Audi recently scored points three times in a row, the Ingolstadt-based team is in eighth place in the World Championship halfway through the season – one position ahead of the predecessor team Sauber at the end of 2025.
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“The speed is there to fight in the midfield,” Hülkenberg summarizes at mid-season and explains: “Of course, there were also some difficulties, especially on my side of the garage. I think we are aware that we are still somewhat vulnerable in some areas.”
Audi has recorded three retirements so far this year, in addition to two other situations at the beginning of the year where Hülkenberg (Australia) and Bortoleto (China) each could not participate in a race at all due to technical problems.
“The team is of course focusing on this and working intensively to make everything more robust,” emphasizes Hülkenberg. “But all in all, I find it quite positive and quite encouraging where we already stand as a young team,” says the German.
Hülkenberg explains that Audi has improved “everywhere” this year. He reports: “We have grown as a team. All departments have increased their staff. It is simply a works team now. And you can see the partners and the brands we have.”
Where Audi has specifically improved
“I believe the entire operation has taken a step forward,” says the 38-year-old, whose teammate sees it very similarly. “I have seen great progress, both in mentality and in team culture, as well as progress on the racetrack,” reports Bortoleto.
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In addition, the “extent to which we were able to develop the car further and the upgrade packages we brought in” are positive, and also the way problems were handled was “pretty great,” says Bortoleto.
Although the Audi chassis will continue to be built in the Sauber factory in Hinwil, so it cannot be called a completely new team. But Hülkenberg reminds that for the first time they are responsible for “an engine, a gearbox, and the hydraulics” themselves.
The Audi milestones in Formula 1
“Hats off to [the engine factory in] Neuburg for what they have achieved,” says the German and explains: “We had problems, but they reacted very well and quickly and found solutions. Very dynamic, very practical.”
Purely in terms of points, Audi still has some catching up to do compared to the previous year. In 2025, the then Sauber team was only ninth in the World Championship but scored 70 points. In addition, Hülkenberg once stood on the podium in Silverstone in third place.
In 2026, Audi is currently eighth in the World Championship but has only twelve points after the first half of the season. The best results are two eighth places by Bortoleto in Silverstone and Spa.
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