Audi’s Components 1 energy unit has been described as “the place we will acquire probably the most” by its driver Gabriel Bortoleto, with team-mate Nico Hulkenberg in settlement.
Audi has taken over the Sauber outfit amid F1’s 2026 regulatory overhaul, designing and producing its first-ever energy unit, however has suffered from an absence of efficiency and reliability and failed to attain any factors within the final three rounds.
Though the R26 is constantly flirting with Q3 – the staff’s lead driver has by no means certified beneath eleventh within the six qualifying classes up to now – race outcomes haven’t been forthcoming as a result of engine missing energy and quite a few reliability niggles.
Requested about how the Audi struggles to overhaul slower vehicles, Hulkenberg defined: “It is a mixture of issues. Our driveability is certainly a subject. It is one thing that now we have quite a lot of room for enchancment for the reason that starting of the yr. We’re engaged on it, however it’s a longer-term topic. There is no straightforward fixes for that, actually.
“It is interconnecting many issues that must work collectively in concord for it to be good. Energy, undoubtedly. We’re not probably the most highly effective energy unit on the market. We undoubtedly have a deficit on that, we all know that. So it is a mixture of issues which then can depart you fairly uncovered in sure circumstances.”
“I feel it comes a bit from the driveability,” Bortoleto concurred. “However realistically we’re struggling a bit with our engine proper now, engine energy. We’re behind.
“Our automotive, our chassis appears to be like in an excellent place. However with the engine, in my perspective now we have performed a tremendous job to start out a mission with what now we have, however once we are competing in opposition to different groups proper now, we will see the dearth of energy somewhat bit.
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group
Photograph by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
“And generally it is simply tough, as a result of it appears like we’re at all times chasing, chasing on the straights, making an attempt to avoid wasting vitality right here till we’re taking the following one. And that has not been the case.”
Requested if this was purely linked to the V6’s energy or additionally harvesting effectivity, the Brazilian added: “I feel it’s kind of of all the pieces. There’s probably not one factor that stands out as a giant drawback. We simply lack energy. That is realistically what we face proper now. It is clear while you have a look at information – public information that now we have accessible as properly – it is simply what we’re going via. I feel there are a lot of small areas right here and there that make a giant distinction on the finish of the lap.”
Albeit quick in qualifying, Audi had the second-slowest automotive within the Miami race with 319km/h recorded on the pace entice, main solely Cadillac on 318.5km/h and noticeably down on Mercedes’ 334.1km/h.
All through the Floridan weekend, the staff’s struggles have been compounded by Hulkenberg’s automotive catching fireplace because of a leak, Bortoleto being disqualified from the dash because of a spike in air strain, a braking drawback for the Brazilian and an “overheating” situation on the German’s machine.
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Beforehand, each drivers failed to start out a grand prix every in Australia and China, once more because of technical issues. Therefore reliability being a precedence, Hulkenberg mentioned.
“A giant deal with it, clearly, with Miami actually tough and hard in that respect,” he commented.
“On the ability unit aspect, we’re nonetheless a brand new staff in historical past. Earlier than final yr, within the final 20 years, it is at all times been a buyer staff, by no means actually needed to handle that aspect. Now, clearly, we do all in-house. It’s totally advanced equipment and we’re firstly. We’re at the beginning nonetheless, however there was a giant deal with that, a giant push to get on high of this stuff for now onwards. However it may be a piece in progress. We simply must work via the issues.”
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