Hulkenberg and Audi get back on track
On day 3 of the Barcelona shakedown, Nico Hulkenberg finally had the opportunity to accumulate meaningful mileage in the new Audi R26, marking a significant step forward for the German team in its early 2026 testing program.
The R26 overcomes morning issues
The day started slowly, with Hulkenberg completing just five laps in the morning due to a new reliability alert. However, the afternoon session proved far more productive, allowing the Audi team to add 55 laps to their tally and begin building a solid baseline for the car’s performance. It was a day of mixed emotions for Audi, combining early setbacks with later progress.
“We had a slow start because of a technical issue that cost us some time, but once we got going, the afternoon turned into a really productive session, with a good number of laps and valuable first impressions of the car,” Nico Hulkenberg explained. “These new cars are incredibly complex, and there’s still a lot to learn. It really feels like working with a blank sheet, which is exciting. Overall, it was a solid first step.”
Looking ahead, Audi still has one more day of testing available between today and tomorrow before the Barcelona shakedown concludes, giving the team the opportunity to continue gathering data and refining the R26 for the new season.
As Audi continues to navigate the complexities of their debut as a full works entrant, these early milestones are essential for building a reliable foundation. While the morning’s technical hitch served as a reminder of the challenges ahead, the afternoon’s recovery demonstrates the team’s ability to react quickly and maintain momentum. With one more day of running remaining in Barcelona, the focus will stay firmly on data correlation and system validation to ensure the R26 is fully prepared for the more rigorous performance testing that awaits in the coming weeks.
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