Audi F1 Driver Bortoleto Calls Team's Race Starts 'Terrible', Highlighting Key Weakness

Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto has identified the team's poor race starts as a critical weakness, describing them as "terrible" and a major factor preventing stronger results. After a point-scoring debut in Australia, both Bortoleto and teammate Nico Hulkenberg lost positions at the start in Japan, finishing outside the points. Bortoleto acknowledged that while improvements are possible, catching top teams like Ferrari and Mercedes in this area will be a significant, long-term challenge.

Why it matters:

For a new manufacturer like Audi, maximizing every opportunity is crucial for establishing credibility and momentum in its debut Formula 1 season. Consistently losing multiple positions at the start of a race immediately puts the team on the back foot, compromising strategy and wasting strong qualifying performances. This technical hurdle directly impacts their ability to score points regularly and build a foundation for future development.

The details:

• The issue was starkly highlighted at the Japanese Grand Prix, where Bortoleto qualified ninth but quickly fell down the order on the opening lap alongside Hulkenberg.
• Bortoleto explained that while the starting procedure is standardized across the grid, some teams have developed their cars and systems to execute it more effectively.
• He admitted Audi did not anticipate the difficulty, stating, "It ended up that it's terrible, so far. We know it's very difficult for us, and we need to improve."
• The problem is not unique to Audi, as other teams have also struggled to optimize starts with the new 2026-spec power units, but it appears to be a pronounced weakness for the German squad.

What's next:

Bortoleto was realistic about the timeline for a fix, indicating it is not a short-term project. Closing the gap to the best-starting teams, such as Ferrari and Mercedes, will require sustained development. Audi's engineering team will need to delve into the complex integration of clutch control, engine mapping, and software to find a solution. How quickly they can address this "terrible" weakness will be a key barometer of their in-season development rate and their potential to convert future qualifying gains into race-day points.