Five weeks away from the track have not been a break, but rather a suspended period in which Audi has worked quietly behind the scenes, reorganised roles, and refined internal processes. Miami arrives as a checkpoint: a place to understand whether what has been built away from the spotlight can turn into real performance. And with Allan McNish stepping into his first weekend as race director, the atmosphere is that of a new chapter opening without the need for loud declarations.
A team returning to the track with a developing identity
The Audi Revolut F1 Team returns to action in Miami for the fourth round of the championship after five intense weeks of work split between Hinwil, Neuburg, and Bicester. It has been a continuous development period, culminating in a reshaping of the trackside organisation: this will be the first race with Allan McNish in his new role as race director.
The opening three rounds have shown clear potential, with both cars consistently operating close to the top ten. Now the objective is to turn that proximity into points. The Miami weekend, the second Sprint event of the season, reduces preparation time and magnifies every detail: making the most of every session becomes crucial.
“After a few weeks away from the track following the first three races of the team, during which everyone has worked incredibly hard, Miami represents an opportunity to see where we stand compared to our competitors. We have analysed all the data from the opening races in detail and focused on the areas that can make the difference. The goal for the weekend is to apply what we have learned and build on what we have seen so far, especially in a Sprint event where everything is more condensed and margins for error are reduced. This weekend is also, of course, a very proud moment for me as I take on this new role within the team. I have been part of this journey in different ways over recent years and I am really looking forward to this next chapter as we continue to build our project.”
Off track, Miami becomes a parallel stage: the MAPS Backlot in Wynwood will host events, activations, screenings, and partner initiatives, while the limited-edition adidas collection continues to attract attention during one of the most glamorous weekends of the calendar.
Hülkenberg and Bortoleto: two development paths in the same environment
Nico Hülkenberg returns to the cockpit with the clarity of a driver who has used the break to analyse every detail:
“It’s good to be back after a few weeks off. The break gave us time to analyse the first three races and understand where we stand and what we need to improve, especially in terms of managing the entire weekend. Now it’s about putting what we have learned into practice.”
For him, Miami is a familiar and stimulating venue:
“Miami is always a fun challenge, with a unique atmosphere and energy, and it’s another Sprint weekend, which means every session really counts. The goal is to put everything together quickly and give ourselves a real chance to fight for points.”
On the other side of the garage, Gabriel Bortoleto approaches the weekend differently, more focused on internal growth:
“These weeks without racing have been useful to recharge after a very intense start to the season. It was a good opportunity to spend more time both in Hinwil and Neuburg, working with the team and finding new ways to improve.”
And now he looks ahead to Miami with enthusiasm:
“I enjoyed Miami last year. It’s quite a unique event with the circuit around the stadium, an impressive paddock, and everything that happens around it, so it’s a great place to race. The goal is to put everything together as well as possible over the weekend, make the most of the only free practice session, and be in a good position right from the start.”
Two different approaches, one single direction: turning quiet development work into visible results.
A decisive weekend for Audi’s trajectory
Miami is not just Audi’s return to racing. It is a test, a transition point, a moment to understand whether the structure built over the past weeks can withstand the pressure of a Sprint weekend. McNish makes his debut in a new role, Hülkenberg is chasing consistency, and Bortoleto is focused on development.
Everything unfolds in a weekend that does not forgive mistakes, but one that can reveal far more than it initially suggests.
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