Gabriel Bortoleto expresses 'full confidence' in Audi's F1 engine future

Audi F1 driver Gabriel Bortoleto is confident the manufacturer will overcome its current power deficit to become a leading engine supplier, despite a debut weekend in Australia that highlighted reliability and performance challenges. The team acknowledges the steep learning curve but is banking on long-term development and F1's new upgrade system to close the gap to established rivals.

Why it matters:

Audi's entry represents a major commitment to Formula 1, and its ability to develop a competitive power unit is critical to its long-term success. The 2026 engine regulations were designed to help new manufacturers catch up, making Audi's development trajectory a key test of those rules and a significant factor in shaping the future competitive order.

The details:

• Debut Exposes Weaknesses: At the Australian GP, the Audi R26 secured a points finish with Bortoleto in ninth, but the Albert Park circuit revealed a power unit deficit. The weekend was also marred by technical issues, with Nico Hulkenberg failing to start and Bortoleto encountering problems in qualifying.
• A Long-Term Project: Bortoleto emphasized that Audi is in its first year of building an F1 engine, while rivals have over a decade of hybrid power unit experience. He expressed unwavering belief that the team will eventually reach the top, stating, "I can't tell you when we're gonna be there, but I can tell you that we're gonna be there."
• Regulations Offer a Path: The 2026 rules include the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system. It allows manufacturers whose engines are more than 2% down on power to receive extra upgrade tokens, providing a structured mechanism for Audi to catch up.
• Calendar Complications: The upgrade assessment occurs every six races. Potential cancellations of early-season races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia could disrupt this schedule, complicating Audi's initial upgrade planning, though the team is currently focused on the existing calendar.

What's next:

Audi's immediate challenge is to improve reliability and understand its new package. Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley, drawing on his Red Bull experience with Honda's similar journey, noted that the sophistication of all cars will evolve dramatically over the coming years. The focus is on steady development, with the first major assessment under the ADUO system after the Miami Grand Prix in May serving as a potential milestone for introducing performance upgrades.