Hulkenberg scores first 2026 points in Hungary as Audi streak continues

Nico Hulkenberg finally scored his first points of the 2026 season with a ninth-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix, ending a frustrating run of near-misses for the Audi veteran. The result also marked the Hinwil squad's third consecutive scoring weekend and lifted the team past Williams into eighth place before the summer break.

Why it matters:

For a team rebuilding under the Audi name, consistency matters as much as outright pace. Hulkenberg's breakthrough validates the genuine step forward the car has taken in recent races and eases the pressure on a driver who had been repeatedly denied top-10 finishes by bad luck and strategy mishaps earlier in the year.

The details:

• Starting from 10th, Hulkenberg executed a two-stop strategy and found late-race pace on soft tyres, sweeping past teammate Gabriel Bortoleto and Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad to secure two points.
• The 38-year-old briefly threatened Liam Lawson before traffic from the leaders interrupted his charge.
• Audi has now scored in three straight race weekends after Bortoleto's eighth-place finishes at both Silverstone and Spa.
• Bortoleto crossed the line 11th after a one-stop gamble faded on the hard compound, leaving him to battle severe tyre degradation over the final stint.

What's next:

Audi enters the summer break carrying momentum it has not enjoyed since its rebrand. The challenge now is turning this hot streak into sustained form through the second half of the season. With both cars regularly knocking on the door of the points, the team is steadily establishing itself as the most reliable midfield outfit on the grid.