Audis’ inaugural Formula 1 race weekend made a remarkable impression at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, where the team secured its first-ever championship points. Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto, after qualifying tenth despite being unable to complete any laps in Q3 due to a technical issue, delivered a determined and tactical race to finish ninth, placing Audi immediately on the scoreboard in their debut.
Steady Performance Amid a Chaotic Race Environment
The race involved several safety car periods and close battles among midfield competitors, yet Bortoleto managed the difficulties with composure, maintaining competitive lap times throughout the event. His performance reflected the extensive preparation the Audi team invested over the winter, showcasing the car’s reliability and strong power unit on race day.
Finishing in the points in our first race as Audi and writing a page of motorsport history is something the whole team can be extremely proud of. It was a positive race that capped off a good weekend for us: the car and the power unit performed reliably throughout the day, which is a great reward for the considerable effort put in over the winter to prepare everything for the season.
— Jonathan Wheatley, Audi Team Director
Bortoleto also described how the race unfolded in an unpredictable manner due to new Formula 1 regulations, which introduced additional challenges in race strategy and pace management.
The race was quite lively and sometimes a bit chaotic with the new regulations, so there’s still a lot to study and better understand. But the pace was high, the communication in the garage was excellent, and the team executed the race very well.
— Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi Driver
As the reigning Formula 2 champion in 2024, Bortoleto expressed that the team’s achievements surpassed initial expectations and laid a strong foundation for future car development.
Overall, it’s probably better than we could have expected for a first weekend. This result gives us a good starting point, but we know there are still many aspects to improve. There are many races to come, and our priority now is to continue learning, developing the car, and coming back even stronger for the next events.
— Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi Driver
The official Formula 1 Twitter account also acknowledged Audi’s impressive debut.
Go Gabi! 👏
Points on Audi’s debut as an F1 Constructor is certainly a mightily impressive performance! 💪#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/DGBCOL1Om6
— Formula 1 (@F1), March 8, 2026
Reflecting on a demanding and unpredictable race, Bortoleto expressed his satisfaction with the team’s reliability and effort.
It’s incredible. I’m extremely happy, the team deserves it after working really hard. The car was reliable, the engine too, it’s a very good starting point. It was a really chaotic race from start to finish with a lot of things happening. It was interesting, I enjoyed myself.
— Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi Driver
Nico Hülkenberg’s Race Ends Before It Begins Due to Technical Issues
In stark contrast to Bortoleto’s success, Nico Hülkenberg, Audi’s other driver who had qualified eleventh and appeared well-positioned for points, was sidelined before the race even started. A technical malfunction during formation laps forced him to retire, frustrating the team and denying valuable race data.
Unfortunately, we were unable to participate in today’s race. We encountered a technical issue on our way to the starting grid, and we were unable to resolve it in time. The team is currently investigating to understand exactly what happened. It’s obviously frustrating to miss the race and the opportunity to learn more.
— Nico Hülkenberg, Audi Driver
Hülkenberg described the breakdown during the formation laps and the frustration of missing out on such a critical opportunity after a promising qualifying session.
We’re not sure what happened; there was a technical issue during the formation laps. I made it to the grid, but then we had a problem that we couldn’t resolve quickly. We’re analyzing the whole car to understand what happened. It’s a real shame not to start and to lose laps that would have allowed us to learn a lot. It’s frustrating for the team; nobody wanted this after a positive weekend so far.
— Nico Hülkenberg, Audi Driver
Despite the setback, Hülkenberg praised his teammate’s achievement and emphasized the encouraging performance exhibited by the team overall during the weekend.
That said, it’s positive to see the team finish with points thanks to Gabi [Bortoleto], which is an excellent result and a great way to start the F1 era for Audi. Racing evolves quickly, so we get back to work and we’ll be back next week.
— Nico Hülkenberg, Audi Driver
Leadership Applauds Team and Driver’s Resilience in Audi’s Debut
Jonathan Wheatley, Audi’s team director, highlighted Bortoleto’s maturity and composure throughout his first race representing Audi, praising his ability to manage race conditions effectively despite an initially challenging start.
Gabi [Bortoleto] rode an exceptional race today. He showed great maturity from start to finish. The start wasn’t ideal, which we anticipated could be a challenge here, but he kept his composure, managed the race remarkably well, and displayed great confidence throughout.
— Jonathan Wheatley, Audi Team Director
The team also pursued an aggressive strategy in the closing laps to pressure competitors ahead and potentially improve their finishing position.
We opted for an aggressive strategy at the end of the race, with the final pit stop, in order to try and put pressure on the cars in front. With a slightly different scenario in the last few laps, we could even have had the opportunity to fight for 8th place.
— Jonathan Wheatley, Audi Team Director
Wheatley reaffirmed the symbolic importance of claiming points at their first event and acknowledged the entire team’s dedication to this historic accomplishment.
Ultimately, finishing our first Grand Prix in 9th place and scoring points is a fantastic way to start our adventure. It’s a historic moment for the Audi team and the whole team can be very proud.
— Jonathan Wheatley, Audi Team Director
Audi’s debut in Melbourne concluded with two points earned and a solid foundation to build upon, as the team prepares for the upcoming race weekend in Shanghai, scheduled from March 13 to 15. This promising start reinforces Audi’s determination to establish themselves as a competitive force in Formula 1.
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