There is plenty of positivity to take from Audi’s Formula 1 debut, which ended with points scored in both qualifying and the race by Gabriel Bortoleto. However, beyond the insights gained from the R26 itself, perhaps even more valuable were the lessons learned from Racing Bulls, which uses its hybrid system in a very distinctive way.
A solid start for Audi
The Australian Grand Prix marked Audi’s first race in F1—not just as a team, but also as a constructor with an ambitious project. Naturally, expectations were tempered: transforming Sauber—the team forming the roots of the four-ring squad—into a top contender in a single year was always going to be a gradual process.
The initial goal was to build a solid foundation. Scoring points in the season opener gives the German manufacturer reason to smile and optimism for the season ahead. This result is all the more encouraging considering the technical issue that struck Nico Hulkenberg, preventing him from even starting the race.
Telemetry on Nico Hulkenberg’s car was lost during the formation laps, leaving the team unable to identify the root cause in the limited time available. Despite this setback, there were plenty of reasons for optimism, especially thanks to the strong performance shown on track by Bortoleto.
New regulations and the challenge of a new power unit
When a new set of regulations is introduced, uncertainties are inevitable—especially when a completely new engine is added to the mix, one Audi had never worked with before. This situation carries potential advantages, but also questions, as arriving late in the power unit development race, in the tightly packed midfield of customer teams, could have a significant impact.
Tests in Bahrain had already shown that, despite some reliability issues, Audi possessed solid race pace. The most interesting insights came from race simulations, which are far harder to manipulate than single-lap stints, where fuel loads and engine maps can be adjusted. For this reason, breaking into the top 10 in both qualifying and the race represents a strong foundation for the team.
Bortoleto’s debut impressions
Starting from tenth, Gabriel Bortoleto spent the race in midfield battles, placing him in an ideal position to both learn about the 2026 cars and gain valuable experience. “It was really fun, I have to say, but there’s still so much to learn. I made some overtakes I didn’t intend to do, by mistake, because I had so much energy and the other car didn’t,” he explained.
“You really have to think during the race. Last year, everything was much more predictable. You made a move, and that was it. Now, when you overtake, you have to calculate the next three straights—because maybe the other driver will retake the position, and then you have to respond in the next straight. And it continues like that until everyone is in the same energy state.”
Learning from rivals
Bortoleto’s numerous duels also provided insight into other elements, not just the R26 but also the competition. Energy management was the key theme of the Australian GP, producing marked differences even among teams using the same power unit. Among the teams from which Audi believes it learned the most is Racing Bulls, a direct rival in the heart of the midfield.
Racing Bulls was extremely competitive throughout the Australian weekend. Without the issue suffered by Liam Lawson at the start, it would not have been surprising to see both VCARB03s in the points. Another interesting aspect, highlighted by Oliver Bearman, was how difficult it is to overtake Racing Bulls due to their unique hybrid management.
Jonathan Wheatley on Racing Bulls’ hybrid approach
“It’s fascinating to see how their cars use energy throughout the lap in an attempt to overtake. I think today we saw that… and actually, as Bortoleto said after the race, it was exhausting not just physically but mentally, because you have to understand how to use the power and how to recover it. We are still a bit far from fully understanding whether it’s something we can exploit,” explained Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley.
“Car performance depends on engine efficiency in this regard. The more efficient the engine, the better the recovery and the better the power delivery. Typically, a more efficient engine has more usable energy across the lap, or it uses it more intelligently.”
“What I can say is that the way Racing Bulls uses energy is very different from ours. I think eventually there will be convergence, with everyone doing roughly the same thing at the same time. It was fascinating. Gabriel Bortoleto also tried different approaches. The way he managed energy on the final lap could have worked, but there wasn’t enough time to attempt the overtake.”
Audi’s debut demonstrates that the 2026 season will be as much a battle of wits as it is of horsepower. While Gabriel Bortoleto showed the R26 has the underlying pace to compete for points, the “mental exhaustion” of managing complex energy deployment cycles represents the new frontier of Formula 1 racing. By closely analyzing the tactical nuances of rivals like Racing Bulls, Audi aims to bridge the gap and refine their hybrid software ahead of the upcoming rounds. If they can successfully implement the lessons learned at Albert Park, the four-ringed brand could quickly move from midfield contenders to a consistent threat at the front of the pack.
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