The opening race of the 2026 Formula 1 season in Australia has just concluded, delivering a bittersweet debut for Audi. Gabriel Bortoleto celebrated the team’s first-ever points in Formula 1, while Nico Hülkenberg was unfortunately forced to retire before the race even began.
Despite the mixed outcome, Audi has already written an important page in its motorsport history. In its first Grand Prix appearance in Formula 1, the team with the four rings saw Bortoleto finish in ninth place, securing two historic championship points.
For Nico Hülkenberg, however, the day ended prematurely due to a technical issue that prevented him from even taking the start.
Even with this two-sided debut, the overall performance confirmed the competitiveness of the car already seen during pre-season testing, offering encouraging signs for the 2026 campaign.
Audi team principal Jonathan Wheatley reflected on the historic debut, beginning with praise for Gabriel Bortoleto’s performance.
“Gabi drove extremely well today. It was a performance full of maturity from start to finish. He stayed calm, managed the race excellently and showed great confidence.”
Speaking about the unfortunate situation for Hülkenberg, Wheatley added: “It was a shame not to have Nico on the starting grid. He was very motivated for his first race with Audi.”
The British manager concluded by summing up the team’s debut weekend.
“Finishing our first Grand Prix with ninth place and our first points in the standings is a fantastic way to begin our journey. It’s a historic moment for the Audi Revolut F1 Team and something the whole team can be proud of.”
The drivers’ reactions
After the Australian Grand Prix and the celebrations on the Audi pit wall, both Formula 1 drivers shared their thoughts on their respective debuts while highlighting the potential of the R26 single-seater.
Gabriel Bortoleto, the hero of the day for the team, did not hide his pride at being part of such an important moment.
“Finishing in the points in our first race as Audi and writing a piece of motorsport history is something the whole team can be very proud of. The car and the engine worked well throughout the day, and that rewards the huge amount of work done over the winter to be ready for the season.”
The Brazilian driver also analyzed the technical challenges encountered during the race.
“The race was intense and at times a bit confusing because of the new rules. We still have many things to study and understand better. But the pace was good, communication with the mechanics was excellent and the team managed the race very well.”
The young talent concluded by emphasizing how promising the result is for the future.
“The result exceeds our initial expectations. It’s a great starting point, but we know we can still improve a lot.”
On the other side of the garage, a understandably disappointed Nico Hülkenberg explained the technical issue that prevented him from taking part in the race, although he still highlighted the positive result achieved by his teammate.
“Unfortunately today we didn’t get the chance to race. We had a technical problem while the car was going to the grid and we couldn’t solve it in time for the start.”
“That said, it’s positive that the team scored points thanks to Gabi. It’s a great result and a nice way to start Audi’s adventure in Formula 1. The races come quickly, so now we turn the page and try again next week.”
Audi’s historic P9 finish in Melbourne proves that the “four rings” have arrived with a chassis and power unit capable of immediate contention, yet the technical failure on Hülkenberg’s car serves as a reminder of the immense complexity inherent in the 2026 hybrid era. As the team moves toward the next round, the priority will be stabilizing the R26’s reliability to ensure that both Bortoleto and Hülkenberg can fully exploit Audi’s promising aerodynamic platform.
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