The Monaco Grand Prix left Audi with a sense of unfinished business. The German manufacturer had a valuable opportunity to improve its championship position on a circuit that helped mask some of the power unit limitations of the R26 package, but technical issues on Gabriel Bortoleto’s car and a penalty handed to Nico Hülkenberg following contact with Carlos Sainz ultimately derailed the team’s plans.
Now the four-ring brand turns its attention to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a venue that presents a completely different challenge compared to the narrow streets of Monte Carlo. With its combination of low-, medium- and high-speed corners, as well as one of the longest straights on the calendar, Barcelona is considered one of the most complete tests in Formula 1.
It will also provide an ideal benchmark to evaluate how competitive the team has become three months after making its Formula 1 debut under the Audi name.
Nico Hülkenberg focuses on the positives
Despite the disappointment of Monaco, Nico Hülkenberg believes there were several encouraging signs that Audi can carry forward into the Spanish Grand Prix weekend.
“Monaco ended in a rather frustrating way, but it’s behind us now and we’re preparing for another race week,” Nico Hülkenberg said – “There were still positives to take from last weekend. Our pace was encouraging and that’s something we want to build on. Barcelona is a very different challenge compared to Monaco and it is always a good test of the overall package. We have taken steps in the right direction, so hopefully we can fully unlock the car’s potential.”
The experienced German driver will be hoping that the characteristics of the Spanish circuit allow Audi to demonstrate the progress it has made in recent races.
Gabriel Bortoleto targets a clean weekend
Gabriel Bortoleto also highlighted the positive aspects of the Monaco weekend despite the final result not reflecting the team’s true pace.
“We showed some encouraging signs in terms of performance in Monaco,” Gabriel Bortoleto explained – “Every race is an opportunity to learn more and continue improving, and that is what we are focused on heading into Barcelona. It’s a circuit where I’ve spent a lot of time over the years in almost every championship I’ve raced in, and it’s also a track where teams usually face very few surprises because of all the testing that has taken place there.
“We need to focus on having a clean weekend where we can maximize the potential of our car, execute everything properly and hopefully come away with some points.”
For the Brazilian rookie, Barcelona offers another valuable opportunity to continue building experience while helping Audi gather crucial data at one of Formula 1’s most technically demanding circuits.
Paul Aron to make his first FP1 appearance of the season
In accordance with FIA regulations, which require each race driver to hand over their car to a rookie driver during two Free Practice 1 sessions over the course of the season, Nico Hülkenberg will step aside for Paul Aron in Barcelona.
Audi has confirmed that the Estonian driver will take part in FP1 this weekend and will also complete another rookie session in Austria, where he will replace Gabriel Bortoleto.
After fulfilling those commitments, Paul Aron is expected to return to Alpine for the second half of the season as part of the agreement between the two teams.
The Barcelona session will therefore represent an important opportunity for the highly rated Estonian to gain valuable Formula 1 track time while contributing to Audi’s development programme. For the team, it also offers another chance to assess young talent while continuing to gather data on the evolving R26 package as the 2026 season progresses.
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