(Motorsport-Total.com) – Audi driver Nico Hülkenberg gave an initial assessment of where his team might fit into the new pecking order shortly before the conclusion of the 2026 Formula 1 winter tests in Bahrain (follow the final hours here in the Formula 1 live ticker!). Hülkenberg said in a press conference: “At the moment, I hope that we are moving competitively somewhere in the midfield.”
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“I think we won’t really know until Melbourne – and probably not until after a few races. Currently, a lot seems to be very track-dependent, meaning it depends on how the overall package behaves on different circuits. We have to wait until everyone puts their cards on the table in qualifying. Then we’ll get a clearer picture.”
According to Hülkenberg, Formula 1 newcomer Audi has already made “very good progress” with the R26. The German recognized “definitely some positive aspects,” but warned against too much euphoria surrounding the new factory team: “It’s still early and there’s always more to do, more to analyze, more to optimize.”
Audi has catching up to do with the power unit
He therefore described the Formula 1 project as a “work in progress” and explained: “We are learning step by step.” Especially in the power unit area: unlike all competitors, Audi has developed a Formula 1 power unit for the first time. “It was busy and demanding,” said Hülkenberg. He spoke of an “intensive phase” in the winter.
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After a total of nine test days, Audi is in a “solid” position, Hülkenberg said. “But there is still a lot of work and significant potential for improvement – especially with the power unit. There is still a lot to come.”
There is also a need for further development regarding the starting procedure, which is more difficult under the new engine format than before. “We don’t have much experience here, especially not with real race starts with all the cars on the grid,” Hülkenberg explained. “And that is precisely a topic that is quite different in 2026 compared to last year.”
Hülkenberg himself can draw a comparison here: he drove for Audi’s predecessor team Sauber in 2025 and knows the previous Formula 1 power units from his own experience. “Those power units were perfect, seamless, smooth, and very natural.” Therefore, under the new regulations, there is “still a lot to discover and work through,” Hülkenberg said.
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